In Brief
- The UFC is holding a UFC Fight Night on July 25 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, headlined by former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev against Uzbekistan’s Bogdan Guskov (18-3-1).
- Guskov, ranked tenth in the division, replaced Khalil Rountree Jr., who withdrew with an injury.
- Ankalaev, who won and then lost the belt against Alex Pereira, is fighting for the first time since his first-round KO loss at UFC 320.
The UFC heads to Abu Dhabi this Saturday, July 25, for a UFC Fight Night at Etihad Arena, headlined by a light heavyweight clash between former champion Magomed Ankalaev and Uzbekistan’s Bogdan Guskov. The main card will air starting at noon ET (9 a.m. PT, 6 p.m. CET) on Paramount+, preceded by the preliminary card starting at 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT, 3 p.m. CET).
This fight was not originally set up this way: Guskov was initially scheduled to face Ankalaev a week later, before Khalil Rountree Jr., the Dagestani’s planned opponent, withdrew with an injury. Bogdan Guskov, ranked tenth in the division, then agreed to move his bout forward to take his place against Ankalaev.
For Guskov (18 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw), the first fighter from Uzbekistan to headline a UFC card, the occasion is historic: all 18 of his professional wins have come by KO or submission. The fighter, long settled into his training, said he is convinced his style fits what the UFC wants from the best light heavyweight in the world better than Ankalaev’s does, a statement that drew a response from the Dagestani’s camp.
On the other side, Magomed Ankalaev is coming back from a rough stretch. After dethroning Alex Pereira by unanimous decision at UFC 313 in March 2025 to become light heavyweight champion, he lost the belt in the immediate rematch, stopped by KO in just 80 seconds at UFC 320 in October. Ankalaev says he fought that night with a fractured rib, against the advice of his team, who recommended he pull out, and calls that loss an “accident” rather than a real case of Pereira dominating him.
This fight against Guskov therefore marks his big comeback in the cage, at a time when he keeps pushing for a third meeting with Pereira, who has since moved up to heavyweight after his own loss to Ciryl Gane. Ankalaev believes a trilogy with the Brazilian remains one of the biggest fights the UFC could put together, whether it happens at 205 pounds (93 kg) or 265 pounds (120 kg).
But before he can hope to reopen that file, Ankalaev first has to deal with a Guskov who is unbeaten since arriving in the UFC and driven by the publicly repeated belief that he is already the best fighter in the 205-pound (93 kg) division. It is a confident message the former champion will need to silence inside the Octagon if he hopes to relaunch his title quest.
Around the main event, the Abu Dhabi card offers several interesting matchups: at flyweight, Steve Erceg faces Ramazan Temirov; at welterweight, Islam Dulatov takes on Wellington Turman and Abubakar Vagaev meets Saygid Izagakhmaev; at lightweight, Magomed Zaynukov faces Damian Rzepecki again; and at heavyweight, Rizvan Kuniev takes on Tyrell Fortune. It is a stacked card, dominated by Caucasian and Eastern European fighters, reflecting the UFC’s growing footprint in that part of the world.
Bogdan Guskov’s background is worth a closer look: born in the village of Dukent, Uzbekistan, into a family of Russian descent, he holds the Master of Sports title in both boxing and MMA and claims to be his country’s national champion in the sport. It is an unusual path that makes him, even before the result of this fight, a point of interest for a UFC always on the lookout for new markets and new faces to represent them.
On paper, the stakes are clear for both men. A win would immediately put Ankalaev back in title contention, a belt he no longer holds but knows better than anyone in the locker room. A loss, on the other hand, would push him well away from the top of the division for some time, in a light heavyweight ranking where competition remains tight behind Alex Pereira. For Guskov, a win over a former champion would by far be the best performance of his career and would launch him straight into the top five of the world rankings.
FAQ
When and Where Is the UFC Fight Night Ankalaev vs. Guskov?
The event takes place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Why Is Bogdan Guskov Replacing Khalil Rountree Jr.?
Khalil Rountree Jr., originally scheduled to face Magomed Ankalaev, withdrew with an injury. Bogdan Guskov, who was set to fight Ankalaev the following week, agreed to move his fight forward to replace him.
What Is Magomed Ankalaev’s Recent Record?
Ankalaev won the light heavyweight title against Alex Pereira at UFC 313 in March 2025, before losing it by first-round KO in the rematch at UFC 320 in October 2025.
All recent results are gathered on our UFC results page, and the next event is on UFC Tonight.
