Early betting odds have been released for the next possible fight involving Magomed Ankalaev, with the Russian being installed as the favorite whether his opponent turns out to be reigning 205-pound champion Carlos Ulberg or former titleholder Jiri Prochazka.
Ankalaev returned to championship contention with a one-sided win at UFC Abu Dhabi, where he finished Bogdan Guskov in the final round of their main event. That result came after his title loss and put him back in the conversation for another shot at the belt.
According to BetOnline, Ankalaev opens as a -190 favorite against Ulberg, who is listed as a +165 underdog. The situation is complicated by the fact that Ulberg is currently sidelined with an injury and is expected to return to the Octagon only next year. 
If Ankalaev is matched with Prochazka instead, the opening line lists Ankalaev as a -200 favorite, while Prochazka is +175. The possibility of a title eliminator or interim title bout was also mentioned as a way the division could move forward while Ulberg continues his recovery.
Fellow light heavyweight Khalil Rountree, who was originally scheduled to face Ankalaev at UFC Abu Dhabi before withdrawing with an injury, was also listed as an underdog in the betting market.
Ulberg’s suggested direction for the division
After the Fight Night, Ulberg suggested possible matchups for the top-ranked light heavyweights while he recovers. In his view, Ankalaev vs. Prochazka and Rountree vs. Paulo Costa could help determine the next title challenger.
The statement reflected a possible path for the division, though no official booking has been announced. For now, Ankalaev is the early betting favorite in both potential scenarios as the UFC light heavyweight picture continues to take shape.
Источник: Sherdog
