Former
Ultimate Fighting Championship The 205-pound champion challenged Xi to a fight in January in a post. Ankalaev (21-2-1) is coming off a fifth round TKO win. Bogdan Guskov in July, regaining the title from a rematch loss
Alex Pereira.
Magomed Ankalaev is looking for a January fight after naming Khalil Rountree, Dominick Reyes and Paulo Costa in a lightweight fight
“It seems that no one in the top five light heavyweights wants to fight,” Ankalaev wrote on X. “Everyone has a reason. Khalil Rountree not ready, Reyes just fought and is injured. Costa wants $10 million.
Ankalaev then challenged the heavyweight.
“So what about heavyweight? Anyone ready for a fight? We’ll do it in January,” he added.
“Big Ank” previously offered to take on Costa in September, describing himself as the Brazilian’s “get out of jail free card” amid Costa’s contract dispute with the UFC.
The anchor ship has not identified a potential heavyweight opponent and no promotion has been announced.
No one in the light heavyweight top five seems to want to fight. Everyone has a reason. Khalil Rountree not ready Reyes just fought and is injured. Costa wants $10 million. So what about heavyweight? Anyone up for a fight? We’ll do it in January.
— Muhammad big ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
November 9, 2026