Former title contender Thiago Santos will look to get back to the top of the light heavyweight division when he faces off against a rising star in Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Vegas 50. The event will take place on March 12 inside the UFC's APEX Center, the last event at the venue for a while.
Making his debut in 2010 initially as a middleweight, Santos joined the UFC in 2013. He wouldn't make his debut at light heavyweight until 2018 when he beat Eryk Anders via TKO. The Brazilian is 14-8 with the promotion. Santos faced Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title in 2019 at UFC 239. During the fight, Santos tore his left ACL, PCL, MCL, meniscus, and suffered a cracked tibia, but still managed to make the fight close, even in a losing effort.
Since returning to action, Santos is 1-2 in his last three fights. His last bout was a unanimous-decision win over Johnny Walker in October.
Born in Dagestan, Ankalaev made his pro debut in 2014. Joining the UFC in 2018, he lost the first fight of his career against Paul Craig. Since then, he has gone on a seven-fight win streak. Ankalaev last fought in October, beating Volkan Oezdemir via unanimous decision.
Below is the full rundown of the schedule for UFC Vegas 50, with details on the fight matchups, start times, odds, and more.
MORE: Khabib Nurmagomedov to be inducted into UFC Hall of Fame as head of 2022 class
When is UFC Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev?
- Date: Saturday, March 12
- Start time: 4 p.m. ET
- Main card: 7 p.m. ET
- Main event: 10:15 p.m. ET (approximately)
UFC Vegas 50 takes place on March 12. The event starts at 4 p.m. ET with the main card beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Santos and Ankalaev will make their way to the octagon at 10:15 p.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
How to watch Vegas 50: Santos vs. Ankalaev
- TV channels/live stream: ESPN+
The prelims and the main card for UFC Vegas 50 will be available on the ESPN+ streaming service.
Santos vs. Ankalaev price: How much does UFC Vegas 50 cost?
You can pay $6.99 for a monthly subscription of ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $69.99.
Where is Vegas 50: Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev?
UFC Vegas 50 will be taking place inside the UFC’s APEX Center in Las Vegas. It will be the final event at the APEX Center for a while, as the UFC will now be traveling to other locations in the United States.
MORE: Why was Cain Velasquez charged with attempted murder? Details of high-speed chase, shooting revealed
Santos vs. Ankalaev odds for UFC Vegas 50
According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, Santos is the +360 underdog. That means a $360 wager will result in a $1,296 profit, while a $100 wager results in a $360 profit. Ankalaev is the -500 favorite, meaning a wager of $500 will result in a $100 profit.
In Canada, according to Sports Interaction, Santos is the +380 underdog while Ankalaev is the -575 favorite.
Thiago Santos record, bio
- Nationality: Brazilian
- Born: Jan. 7, 1984
- Height: 6-2
- Reach: 76 inches
- Total fights: 31
- Record: 22-9 with 15 wins via knockout
Magomed Ankalaev record, bio
- Nationality: Russian
- Born: June 2, 1992
- Height: 6-3
- Reach: 75 inches
- Total fights: 17
- Record: 16-1 with nine wins via knockout
UFC Vegas 50: Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev Fight Card
Main card (7 p.m. ET)
- Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev; Light Heavyweights
- Marlon Moraes vs. Song Yadong; Bantamweights
- Sodiq Yusuff vs. Alex Caceres; Featherweights
- Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Karl Roberson; Light Heavyweights
- Drew Dober vs. Terrance McKinney; Lightweights
- Alex Pereira vs. Bruno Silva; Middleweights
Prelims (4 p.m. ET)
- Matthew Semelsberger vs. AJ Fletcher; Welterweights
- JJ Aldrich vs. Gillian Robertson; Flyweights
- Trevin Jones vs. Javid Basharat; Bantamweights
- Damon Jackson vs. Kamuela Kirk; Featherweights
- Sabina Mazo vs. Miranda Maverick; Flyweights
- Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Cody Brundage; Middleweights
- Kris Moutinho vs. Guido Cannetti; Bantamweights
- Tafon Nchukwi vs. Azamat Murzakanov; Light Heavyweights