Magomed Ankalev settled some unfinished business with Johnny Walker by delivering a vicious second-round knockout to cap off UFC Vegas 84 on Saturday.

After their first encounter ended with a disappointing no contest this past October, Ankalaev waited three months get another shot at Walker — and he certainly made the most of it. Ankalaev put Walker on his back foot throughout the second round before connecting with a devastating right hook that landed flush on the jaw. As soon as Walker hit the canvas, Ankalaev followed up with a brutal uppercut that smashed the Brazilian’s nose and forced referee Marc Goddard to quickly stop the fight.

The end came at 2:42 of the second round.

“I was prepared for this a long time,” Ankalev said following his latest win. “I wanted the rematch right away.

“Everybody who comes out to fight against me tries in the first round to pick a key against me, to figure out how to figure me out, but it’s not something they can do. When I come out here, I am open for the hunt and everybody in front of me is the hunted.”

As Ankalaev mentioned, Walker came out aggressive, throwing a variety of shots looking for an explosive finish, but after a few wild exchanges, he started to settle down. In return, Ankalaev displayed poise and composure in the face of a fiery opening from the Brazilian.

While he avoided Walker’s best strikes, Ankalaev looked to apply his own kicking game, which backfired momentarily after he connected with a low blow that paused the action.

Upon the restart, Ankalaev began marching forward again, but he was resigned to largely following Walker around the cage, picking his shots and just not allowing his opponent to counter him much at all. The plan worked, because Walker looked slightly lost as he continued to circle away while not really throwing much back at Ankalaev.

The Russian didn’t have that same problem because he was measuring every punch until he found the opening to uncork a beautiful right hook that sent Walker crashing to the canvas.

Once Walker was down and clearly stunned, Ankalaev feasted on his prey with a massive uppercut. Walker’s nose exploded from the punch and he covered up to prevent further damage, with Goddard swooping in to rescue him from further harm.

It was the exclamation point that Ankalaev needed after the way the first fight ended. He’s now undefeated in 11 straight fights — including a draw with Jan Blachowicz and the no-contest against Walker — and he has gold on his mind.

“I’m ready to fight for the title,” Ankalaev said. “I have 10 victories in a row, it’s been a long time. I’m worth it. Give me that fight for the title now!”

As of now, former champion Jamahal Hill is expected to face reigning UFC light heavyweight king Alex Pereira next once he’s recovered from a torn Achilles’ tendon, but Ankalaev may have just injected himself into that conversation with this latest win.

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