T.J. Dillashaw: 'Point fighter' Magomed Ankalaev is 'just so boring'

Farah Hannoun, MMA JunkieWed, July 29, 2026 at 6:10 PM UTC

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T.J. Dillashaw did not enjoy watching Magomed Ankalaev's win over Bogdan Guskov.

Ankalaev (21-2-1 MMA, 12-2-1 UFC) dominated Guskov (18-3-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) in this past Saturday's UFC Fight Night 282 main event from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. After outpointing Guskov on the feet, Ankalaev took him down and finished him on the ground.

Ankalaev put the blame on Guskov for their lackluster fight, and Chris Weidman agrees. However, Dillashaw says it's Ankalaev's fighting style that's the cause.

"Boring! Just so boring," Dillashaw said of Ankalaev on the JAXXON PODCAST. "He's just such a point fighter. You can't fight him the way Guskov did. You can't stand in his distance and let him – he's a one punch, one kick at a time kind of guy."

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Ankalaev dethroned Alex Pereira to become light heavyweight champion at UFC 313 by outstriking him in a unanimous decision win. However, Pereira was able to avenge his loss by finishing Ankalaev in just 80 seconds at UFC 320.

Dillashaw says the way Pereira finished Ankalaev in their rematch is the blue print of how to fight the Russian.

"You can see it perfectly when Pereira fights him," Dillashaw continued. "The first fight compared to the second fight. The first fight he stayed in that distance and let him pick his shot at a time, get his angle, throw one kick, throw one punch.

"And in the second fight, he comes forward, puts him on his back leg, and gets him out. So, you can't let him fight his fight. You got to put the pressure on him, you got to make him fight going backwards. Yes, you're doing some risk, but it's a lot better than you just sitting there and losing a fight."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: T.J. Dillashaw: 'Point fighter' Magomed Ankalaev is 'just so boring'

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Source: “AOL Sports”