SUMMARY
- Ankalaev and Walker fought on the main card of UFC 294, and the Russian fighter landed an illegal knee on his downed opponent.
- The co-main event of UFC Vegas 84, which was another rematch between Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape, has been canceled.
UFC Vegas 84 is almost upon us, and fans will be breathing a sigh of relief for this incredible moment. Kicking things off in the new year with a very watchable card, the UFC returns to the Apex in Las Vegas, NV. Ahead of the event, let’s take a quick look at what we can expect to see on the night.
Headlining the first fight night card of 2024, we have Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker. With two top light heavyweight talents and a lot of hype behind them, their fight will make for an intriguing contest. Notably, this will be their second encounter, owing to a controversial draw during their first meeting at UFC 294.
We’re running it back on Saturday 🔥
Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker ready to headline the first card of 2024! #UFCVegas84 pic.twitter.com/SAO1JYWVR8
— UFC (@ufc) January 8, 2024
For those unaware, Ankalaev and Walker fought on the main card of UFC 294. On the night, the Russian fighter landed an illegal knee on his downed opponent. Following the onsite doctor’s surprising decision, the officials decided to call the fight off. Due to the nature of the blow to Walker, many widely disputed the decision not to rule the fight in the Brazilian’s favor with a no-contest.
Unfortunately, the co-main event of UFC Vegas 84, which was another rematch between Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape, has been canceled. This has transpired owing to a weight miss by Kape by 3.5 lbs. However, we have some veteran talent on show with the likes of Jim Miller and Andrei Arlovski. Last but not least, the card also aims to set the stage for new up-and-comers like Farid Basharat, Joshua Van, and many more.
What songs have Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker previously used?
With such an important and exciting event ahead, let’s take a look at what songs the fighters have been walking out to previously. Starting off with Magomed Ankalaev, we have an extremely talented fighter. Since he arrived at the UFC, the Russian has won all but one fight. Notably, Ankalaev’s first and only career came at the hands of Paul Craig during his UFC debut back in 2018.
Since then, Ankalaev has accumulated a record of 18-1 and is ready to add to the tally against Walker. In what has become a common theme for him, Magomed wastes no time and chooses to run out to the cage. As such, for his entrance, the Dagestani uses ‘My Nanak (Мой Нанак)’ by Tamila Sagaipova. Notably, the 31-year-old uses the song simply out of his love and has reportedly stuck with it since his debut.
As for his opponent, the jovial and always entertaining Johnny Walker, he has become a well-beloved figure in the community. Owing to his antics, backed up by some elite skills, Walker has garnered a solid following over the years. Whilst he has used ‘Mas Que Nada’ by Sergio Mendes featuring the Black Eyed Peas, he might walk out to a combination of Avicii’s remix of ‘Insomnia’ by Faithless and ‘Let Me Clear My Throat’ by DJ Kool.
What songs have Jim Miller and Andrei Arlovski walked out to?
As for the other big names on the card, we have Jim Miller and Andrei Arlovski. With careers spanning 16 and 24 years, respectively, the two are some of the longest-standing fighters in the promotion. As such, it makes every single one of their fights even more special and a joy to witness, regardless of the outcome.
For the most part, Miller is making somewhat of a late resurgence in his career at 40 years old. With 4 wins in his last 5 fights, “A-10” is coming off a KO/TKO win over Jesse Butler. Having made his intentions clear to fight at UFC 300 later this year, Miller will need to win against Gabriel Benitez. As such, fans can expect him to walk out to ‘Bad Moon Rising’ (remastered) by Creedence Clearwater Revival for the same.
On the other hand, Miller’s fellow veteran’s association representative, Andrei Arlovski, will be looking to recalibrate after a two-fight skid. Having won four in a row before the losses, the 44-year-old still packs a punch, no doubt. At the same time, The Pitbull will be facing a tough challenge in Waldo Cortes-Acosta. With that said, Arlovski will likely be walking out to ‘Onward to Victory’ by Icepick.