{{short description|UFC mixed martial arts event in 2022}} {{Infobox MMA event |name= UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev |image= File:Official_poster_for_UFC_Fight_Night,_Santos_vs._Ankalaev.jpg |promotion= Ultimate Fighting Championship |date= {{start date|2022|03|12}} |venue= UFC Apex |city= Enterprise, Nevada, United States |attendance= Not announced<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-fight-night-203-post-event-facts-drew-dober-threat-lightweight-knockout-record|title=UFC Fight Night 203 post-event facts: Drew Dober a threat to lightweight knockout record|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Mike Bohn|date=2022-03-13|access-date=2022-03-14}}</ref> |gate= |previousevent= UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal |followingevent= UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall }}

'''''UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev''''' (also known as '''''UFC Fight Night 203''''' and '''''UFC on ESPN+ 61''''' or '''''UFC Vegas 50''''') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 12, 2022 at the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmasucka.com/2021/12/08/ufc-applies-for-several-dates-at-the-apex-to-start-2022/|title=UFC applies for several dates at the Apex to start 2022|publisher=mmasucka.com|author=Andrew Harbaugh|date=2021-12-08|access-date=2022-01-04}}</ref>

==Background== A light heavyweight bout between former UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev served as the event headliner.<ref name="Santos vs. Ankalaev">{{Cite web|url=https://mmadna.nl/thiago-santos-vs-magomed-ankalaev-is-het-main-event-tijdens-ufc-evenement-op-12-maart/|title=Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev is the main event at UFC event on March 12|publisher=mmadna.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2021-11-19|access-date=2021-11-19}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref>

A featherweight bout between Joshua Culibao and Damon Jackson was scheduled for the event.<ref name="2 fights">{{Cite web|date=2021-12-23|title=Two bouts added to UFC Fight Night event on March 12|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/12/ufc-news-fight-night-brundage-vs-lungiambula-jackson-culibao|access-date=2021-12-24|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Nolan King}}</ref> However, Culibao was pulled from the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Kamuela Kirk.<ref name="Jackson vs. Kirk">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.nl/mixed-martial-arts/ufc/2022/kirk-opnieuw-invaller-tijdens-tweede-ufc-partij-tegen-jackson_sto8743962/story.shtml|title=Kirk again substitute during second UFC match against Jackson|publisher=eurosport.nl|author=Marcel Dorff|date=2022-01-29|access-date=2022-01-29}} {{in lang|nl}}</ref>

Former KSW Women's Flyweight Champion Ariane Lipski and JJ Aldrich were scheduled to meet in a women's flyweight bout.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ariane Lipski vs. JJ Aldrich booked for UFC's March 12 card|url=https://cagesidepress.com/2022/01/06/ariane-lipski-vs-jj-aldrich-booked-ufcs-march-12-card/|publisher=cagesidepress.com|author=Jay Anderson|date=2022-01-06|access-date=2022-01-07}}</ref> However, Lipski was removed due to undisclosed reasons and replaced by Gillian Robertson.<ref name="Aldrich vs. Robertson">{{Cite web|url=https://mma.uno/?p=191058|title=Lipski out, Gillian Robertson faces JJ Aldrich at UFC Vegas 50|publisher=mma.uno|author=Steve Duncan|date=2022-02-23|access-date=2022-02-23}} {{in lang|es}}</ref>

Mandy Böhm was scheduled to meet Sabina Mazo in a women's flyweight bout at the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/mma/nota?id=9733815|title=Sabina Mazo vs. Mandy Bohm, 12 March|publisher=espndeportes.espn.com|author=Carlos Contreras Legaspi|date=2022-01-01|access-date=2022-02-24}} {{in lang|es}}</ref> However, Böhm withdrew from the bout due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Miranda Maverick.<ref name="Mazo vs. Maverick">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/2/24/22948890/with-mandy-bohm-out-miranda-maverick-steps-in-to-face-sabina-mazo-at-ufc-vegas-50|title=With Mandy Bohm out, Miranda Maverick steps in to face Sabina Mazo at UFC Vegas 50|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Mike Heck|date=2022-02-24|access-date=2022-02-24}}</ref>

A lightweight bout between Ricky Glenn and Drew Dober was expected to take place at the event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/01/ufc-news-drew-dober-vs-ricky-glenn-march-12-booked|title=UFC adds Drew Dober vs. Ricky Glenn to March 12 event|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Farrah Hannoun|date=2022-01-25|access-date=2022-03-04}}</ref> However, a week before the event, Glenn withdrew due to a torn groin and was replaced by Terrance McKinney.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/3/4/22962164/terrance-mckinney-replaces-ricky-glenn-to-fight-drew-dober-at-ufc-vegas-50|title=Terrance McKinney replaces Ricky Glenn to fight Drew Dober at UFC Vegas 50|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Alexander K. Lee|date=2022-03-04|access-date=2022-03-04}}</ref>

==Results== {{MMAevent}} {{MMAevent card|Main card (ESPN+)}} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Magomed Ankalaev |def. |Thiago Santos |Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 48–47) |5 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Song Yadong |def. |Marlon Moraes |KO (punches) |1 |2:06 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Featherweight |Sodiq Yusuff |def. |Alex Caceres |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Khalil Rountree Jr. |def. |Karl Roberson |TKO (body kick and punches) |2 |0:25 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Lightweight |Drew Dober |def. |Terrance McKinney |TKO (knee and punches) |1 |3:17 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Middleweight |Alex Pereira |def. |Bruno Silva |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent card|Preliminary card (ESPN+)|header=no}} {{MMAevent bout |Welterweight |Matthew Semelsberger |def. |A.J. Fletcher |Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Flyweight |JJ Aldrich |def. |Gillian Robertson |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Javid Basharat |def. |Trevin Jones |Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) |3 |5:00 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Featherweight |Damon Jackson |def. |Kamuela Kirk |Submission (arm-triangle choke) |2 |4:42 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Women's Flyweight |Miranda Maverick |def. |Sabina Mazo |Submission (rear-naked choke) |2 |2:15 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Middleweight |Cody Brundage |def. |Dalcha Lungiambula |Submission (guillotine choke) |1 |3:41 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Bantamweight |Guido Cannetti |def. |Kris Moutinho |TKO (punches) |1 |2:07 | }} {{MMAevent bout |Light Heavyweight |Azamat Murzakanov |def. |Tafon Nchukwi |KO (flying knee) |3 |0:44 | }} {{MMAevent end|notes=yes}} <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ufc.com/event/ufc-fight-night-march-12-2022|title=UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev|publisher=Ultimate Fighting Championship|access-date=2021-01-13}}</ref>

==Bonus awards== The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-fight-night-203-bonuses-yadong-rountree-among-four-total-winners|title=UFC Fight Night 203 bonuses: Yadong, Rountree among four total winners|publisher=mmajunkie.usatoday.com|author=Staff|date=2022-03-12|access-date=2022-03-12}}</ref> *'''Fight of the Night:''' No bonus awarded. * '''Performance of the Night: Song Yadong''', '''Khalil Rountree Jr.''', '''Cody Brundage''', and '''Azamat Murzakanov'''

== See also == {{Portal|Martial Arts}}

* List of UFC events * List of current UFC fighters * 2022 in UFC

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{UFC Events}} {{2022 in mixed martial arts}}

Category:UFC Fight Night Category:2022 in mixed martial arts Category:March 2022 sports events in the United States Category:2022 in sports in Nevada Category:Ultimate Fighting Championship events in Enterprise, Nevada