LAS VEGAS – Magomed Ankalaev (17-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) delivered a victory in his first UFC main event, though the decision win over Thiago “Marreta” Santos (22-10 MMA, 14-9 UFC) was a little lacking in terms of entertainment value. The bout served as the headlining contest of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 203 event, which streamed live on ESPN+ from UFC Apex.

Both men were patient to start, with Ankalaev holding the center of the cage and Santos working on the outside. Santos went first on a few probing attacks, but the speed and power of Ankalaev’s counters was immediately evident. The southpaw’s left hand found the mark on a few occasions, though he remained patient with his efforts.

Santos flashed out a few kicks late in the frame, though none of them were particularly effective.

“Marreta” was a bit more aggressive to open the second, leading with kicks to the legs and body and looking to add punches behind them. Meanwhile, Ankalaev maintained a menacing pose, sliding laterally and looking to cut off the cage and stay in striking range, but he was a bit hesitant to pull the trigger, save for a few left hands.

In the final minute, the two did unleash in the pocket, and it was Santos who landed the best shot, connecting with a left hand to the temple that sent Ankalaev crashing to the canvas. Santos followed to the floor and finished the round in a dominant position.

Ankalaev fired up a high kick early in third and seemed to be operating with a bit more sense of urgency, though the attack still remained largely measured. Ankalaev did open up a bit in the latter stages of the round and clearly landed the more powerful blows, though the frequency still left something to be desired.

Santos turned up the heat in the fourth, firing a leaping knee to start. Ankalaev responded and seemed willing to open up a bit, though he generally limited himself to attacking on the counter. While not overwhelmingly exciting, it was unquestionably effective. In the final minute, Ankalaev added another wrinkle by working to the clinch and tripping the action to the canvas, finishing the round with a few big punches from Santos’ half-guard.

Clearly ahead on the cards entering the final round, Ankalaev walked forward with confidence but remained tactically patient. He moved to the clinch at the halfway mark of the frame and began to drive knees to his opponent’s legs. Santos pummeled against the cage, digging in underhooks and looking to defend, but he was never able to work free. He avoided the takedown but couldn’t get off the cage, and the fight finished against the fence.

In the end, Ankalaev took home a clearcut decision win, 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47. 

Afterward, Ankalaev said he valued the opportunity to go a full five rounds as he prepares for a charge on the UFC’s light heavyweight title.

“I wanted to fight five rounds and see if I’m ready to test myself, if I’m ready to go all the way to the top,” Ankalaev said through an interpreter.

Song Yadong continues charge up bantamweight tanks

Just 24 years old, China’s Song Yadong (19-6-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) picked up perhaps the biggest win of his still young career in the night’s co-main event, scoring a devastating first-round finish of former World Series of Fighting bantamweight champion Marlon Moraes (23-10 MMA, 5-6 UFC)

Yadong looked to push the pace early, aggressively moving forward and ripping off punches to the head and body, several of which found the mark. Moraes, a vaunted striker in his own right, looked to answer with punches of his own but always seemed to be just a touch behind.

Keeping the pressure high, Yadong ripped off a three-punch combination, closing with an uppercut that landed clean to the chin and sent Moraes crashing to the canvas. Referee Keith Peterson immediately waved off the fight, giving Yadong the knockout victory at the 2:06 mark of the opening frame.

After the win, Yadong respectfully – and in English – called for a matchup with former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.

“I want to fight Dominick Cruz, if he wants it,” Yadong said. “I have a lot of respect for him.”

Yadong now boasts a three-fight winning streak, while Moraes has suffered four consecutive losses, albeit all against top competition.

‘Super’ Sodiq Yusuff outpoints ‘Bruce Leeroy’

In a featured matchup between ranked featherweights, Sodiq Yusuff (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) relied on a kick-heavy approach to outpoint a game Alex Caceres (19-13 MMA, 14-11 UFC)

Caceres’ slick grappling was on display in the opening frame, threatening with submissions and forcing Yusuff into some concerning defensive scrambles.

In the second, Yusuff was able to stay upright and chop at the legs of his opponent, scoring repeatedly with an inside low kick that was clearly bothering Caceres.

The third was also contested as standup affair, with Yusuff still finding success with kicks and limiting his opponent’s mobility, though Caceres did his best to answer back with crisp boxing at all levels. Unfortunately for “Bruce Leeroy,” it wasn’t enough in the eyes of the judges, who awarded Yusuff the win, 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

After the win, Yusuff called for a matchup with undefeated featherweight Bryce Mitchell, who picked up a decision win over Edson Barboza one week ago at UFC 272.

“To be honest, I really want to test myself against Arkansas’ finest,” Yusuff said. “I think me and Bryce would put on a really cool fight.”

Complete UFC Fight Night 203 results include:

MAIN CARD

• Magomed Ankalaev def. Thiago Santos via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
• Song Yadong def. Marlon Moraes via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:06
• Sodiq Yusuff def. Alex Caceres via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Khalil Rountree def. Karl Roberson via TKO (punch, kick) – Round 2, 0:25
• Drew Dober def. Terrance McKinney via TKO (knee, punches) – Round 1, 3:17
• Alex Pereira def. Bruno Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Matthew Semelsberger def. A.J. Fletcher via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• JJ Aldrich def. Gillian Robertson via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
• Javid Basharat def. Trevin Jones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Damon Jackson def. Kamuela Kirk via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 4:42
• Miranda Maverick def. Sabina Mazo via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:15
• Cody Brundage def. Dalcha Lungiambula via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 3:41
• Guido Cannetti def. Kris Moutinho via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:07
• Azamat Murzakanov def. Tafon Nchukwi via TKO (flying knee) – Round 3, 0:44