UFC Vegas 84 Preview & Tips

The first UFC event of 2024 is scheduled for the UFC Apex, Nevada, this weekend with the eagerly-anticipated light-heavyweight rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker taking centre stage.

These two fighters originally took to the Octagon at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, but the fight was ruled a no contest during the first round when Ankalaev struck Walker with an illegal knee and the Brazilian was deemed unable to continue.

That outcome left both men frustrated and there could be some scores to settle at the UFC Apex, with the bout set to take place during the early hours of Sunday morning UK time.

Tip 1 - Magomed Ankalaev to beat Johnny Walker and over 2.5 rounds @ 37/20

Despite being the one that administered the illegal blow, Ankalaev may have been the more annoyed of the two fighters that their first meeting was deemed a no contest, as he had been having the better of those opening exchanges.

It was the second fight in a row where the Russian may have felt hard done by, as his previous bout with Jan Błachowicz for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship was scored a draw when many felt Ankalaev had done enough to take the title.

Since losing his first fight in UFC to Paul Craig, Ankalaev has embarked on an 11-bout unbeaten run, claiming nine wins, one draw and one no contest, but it is worth noting that five of those nine wins have come in the third round or later.

Ankalaev is certainly not a fighter that tends to blow away his opponents, instead preferring to grind them down, which is an approach he could adopt against Walker, who will feel his best chance of victory is to get after his rival.

This contrast in styles could see Walker, who has only been beyond the first round in one of his last five fights, take one or two risks, but should Ankalaev survive that early onslaught, he will be expected to pick off his opponent in the latter rounds.

Tip 2 - Matheus Nicolau v Manel Kape to go the distance @ 10/11

The fight scheduled immediately before Ankalaev versus Walker and billed as the co-main feature could have a huge bearing on the flyweight division, as #5 contender Matheus Nicolau will be facing #6 Manel Kape, with both men looking to move into contention for a title shot.

Like Ankalaev against Walker this is a rematch, as Nicolau claimed a split-decision victory that could have gone either way in March 2021.

That was part of a six-fight winning run for the Brazilian, but that sequence was snapped following his loss to #3 Brandon Royval last April, which remains his most recent contest.

Kape has won all four of his fights since that loss to Nicolau, although the last two of those have been via unanimous decision against David Dvorak and most recently Felipe dos Santos at UFC 293 in September.

Four of Nicolau's last six fights have gone the distance and given how closely fought their first meeting was, this could be another contest that lasts the full five rounds.

Tip 3 - Jim Miller to beat Gabriel Benitez by KO, TKO or DQ @ 29/10

There is no one more experienced on the UFC circuit than evergreen lightweight Jim Miller, who is enjoying the autumn of his career having won four of his last five fights, including claiming one of the fastest knockouts of 2023 in his most recent contest, stopping Jesse Butler after just 23 seconds of their opening round.

The 40-year-old will be up against another wily campaigner in Gabriel Benitez this weekend, but his opponent has lost four of his last six fights, three of those defeats coming via KO or TKO. He may also be rusty, as this will be his first visit to the Octagon since August 2022.

If Miller can showcase the same knockout prowess he produced against Butler then this fight could be over quickly, with the New Jersey native appearing well placed to celebrate the 37th victory of his long and distinguished MMA career.