In brief
- All 26 fighters on the UFC Abu Dhabi (UFC Fight Night 282) card made weight this Friday without a hitch, across the 13 bouts on the card.
- France’s Axel Sola (155.5 lb / 70.5 kg) faces Brazil’s Ismael Bonfim and looks to bounce back from his first professional loss, suffered against Mason Jones in March.
- In the main event, Magomed Ankalaev returns to the octagon for the first time since losing his light heavyweight title to Alex Pereira, facing Bogdan Guskov.
Head to Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi for UFC Fight Night 282, after an official weigh-in that went off without a hitch on Friday: all 26 athletes on the 13-fight card made their weight class on the first try, according to results published by Sherdog. The event airs Saturday on Paramount+, with prelims starting at 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT / 3 p.m. CET) and the main card at noon ET (9 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. CET). This marks the UFC’s official return to the Emirati capital, a destination the promotion has favored since the “Fight Island” days of the pandemic and continues to visit regularly for its international cards.
Axel Sola faces a tough Brazilian test
On the preliminary card, Nice native Axel Sola (28) made weight at 155.5 pounds (70.5 kg) to face Brazil’s Ismael Bonfim, at the same limit, in the lightweight division. Signed by the UFC in 2025, Sola made a strong first impression, dominating Rhys McKee by third-round TKO on debut, before suffering his first professional setback this past March, losing a decision to Wales’s Mason Jones. This fight against Bonfim, a Brazilian striker with a reputation for toughness, represents an important test for the Frenchman, who is looking to confirm his place near the top of the lightweight rankings. Bonfim (20 wins, 5 losses) made a name for himself on his own UFC debut, earned through Dana White’s Contender Series alongside his brother Gabriel, by knocking out Terrance McKinney with a flying knee at UFC 283. The Bonfim brothers have both stood out this year: Gabriel, competing at welterweight, beat Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision in June, one of the division’s most recognized names.
Ankalaev under pressure to bounce back
In the main event, Magomed Ankalaev (20-2-1, 1 NC) made the required 205 pounds (93 kg) for his octagon return, seven months after losing his light heavyweight title to Alex Pereira, finished in just 80 seconds. Before that setback, the Dagestani had been unbeaten since 2018, with notable wins over Pereira himself, Aleksandar Rakic, and Anthony Smith. He meets an opponent riding a strong run of his own: Bogdan Guskov (18-3-1), who is headlining a UFC card for the first time after four straight KO wins, including over Nikita Krylov and Ryan Spann, preceded by a majority draw against Jan Blachowicz.
The full card also includes Steve Erceg against Ramazonbek Temirov at flyweight, Santiago Ponzinibbio against Sam Patterson, and Dustin Jacoby against Muhammad Said at light heavyweight. A packed card even before the main event between Ankalaev and Guskov.
The status quo Ankalaev needs to protect
The stakes are high for Ankalaev, who hadn’t tasted defeat since 2018 before falling so suddenly to Pereira. A contender’s spot is within reach with a convincing win, given how tightly bunched the top of the light heavyweight division has become since that title fight. On the other side, Guskov, long seen as a solid but unspectacular contender, has plenty to gain from a win: beating a former champion would immediately put the Uzbekistan native in the title conversation, having not lost in years before his controversial draw with Blachowicz.
For American and European fans, the night’s other key storyline is on the preliminary card, with Axel Sola’s fight. A win over Bonfim would immediately boost his stock in a heavily stacked lightweight division, while a second straight loss would push him further from the top of the rankings he was chasing after his impressive debut.
FAQ
When and where can I watch UFC Abu Dhabi?
The event takes place Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, airing on Paramount+ starting at 9 a.m. ET for the prelims, with the main card beginning at noon ET.
Who are Magomed Ankalaev and Bogdan Guskov?
Ankalaev is the former light heavyweight champion, returning after losing his belt to Alex Pereira. Guskov, on a four-fight KO win streak, is headlining a UFC card for the first time.
What’s at stake in Axel Sola’s fight?
France’s Axel Sola faces Brazil’s Ismael Bonfim at lightweight, looking to bounce back from his first professional loss, suffered in March against Mason Jones.
Also read: the full profile of Magomed Ankalaev.
To see where these fighters stand, check the current UFC rankings, and for upcoming dates, the 2026 UFC schedule.
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