Magomed Ankalaev receives Dagestan's highest reward that is also held by Islam Makhachev
03/14/2025 09:15 AM
The new light heavyweight champion had added more trophies and accolades to his cabinet following the biggest win of his career.
At UFC 313, Magomed Ankalaev defeated Alex Pereira via unanimous decision to finally get his hands on the 205-pound gold.
The Russian may not be a household name across the world but the reaction that Ankalaev received in Dagestan showed the support that he has behind him.
At 32-years-old, the new champion joins the list of fighters from this region to excel at the highest level in mixed martial arts.
With Ankalaev breaking a record that previously belonged to lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, he was recently awarded a huge honor that his fellow champion has also received in the past.
Magomed Ankalaev receives Dagestan’s medal of honor after returning home
A recent video saw Magomed Ankalaev awarded with a prestigious medal following his incredible accomplishment at UFC 313 on March 8.
Whilst Ankalaev hasn’t always been the most popular fighter on the roster, it’s impossible to deny that he’s a world class talent and clearly, he’s a beloved and celebrated figure in his home country.
Islam Makhachev has also been the recipient of Dagestan’s medal of honor in the past with both UFC champions representing their people at the highest level.
Ankalaev reflected on this great honor in a recent Instagram post where he spoke about what this moment of recognition means to him.
He thanked the Head of the Republic of Dagestan, Sergey Alimovich Melikov for inviting him and awarding him this medal with the newly crowned titleholder being unbeaten since his UFC debut in 2018.
“At the invitation of the Head of the Republic of Dagestan, my coaches and I visited the government, where a pleasant surprise awaited me – Sergey Alimovich Melikov presented me with the highest award of the republic. During the meeting, we heard many kind words and important instructions, which inspired us to work even harder and represent the country with dignity on the international stage. Thank you, Sergey Alimovich, for your support and attention to athletes!”
Magomed Ankalaev may have to prove that he can beat Alex Pereira again
A lot of fight fans predicted that Magomed Ankalaev would be the biggest threat to Alex Pereira’s title reign and at UFC 313, that was proven to be ture.
Whilst ‘Poatan’ didn’t quite look himself, that was partly down to the effective game plan of the challenger who was able to neutralize a lot of the defending champion’s most dangerous weapons.
Pereira seems to be leaning towards a rematch and that’s something that Ankalaev has clearly stated that he is open to.
Whilst the emphasis will be on what adjustments Pereira can make to produce a more competitive fight, Ankalaev will have the opportunity to cement his title reign by beating one of the biggest stars in the sport for a second time.
