Magomed Ankalaev Scores TKO Win in Lifeless Headliner

Magomed Ankalaev (22-2-1, 1 NC MMA, 13-2-1, 1 NC UFC) returned to the famous Octagon earlier Saturday night in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates with one goal in mind: Get back to victory lane.

Saturday's headlining fight served as the No. 1 light heavyweight contender's first since dropping the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship last October in UFC 320's main event to Alex Pereira (13-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) in a rematch of a fight won by Pereira in UFC 313 in March of 2025. With Pereira having since moved to heavyweight, current champion Carlos Ulberg (14-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) has become the man to beat at 205 lbs.

Initially, Magomed Ankalaev was to have squared off against Khalil Rountree Jr. on Saturday night. Earlier this month, it was announced that Rountree would withdraw from UFC Abu Dhabi due to injury. Subsequent to the announcement, No. 9 contender Bogdan Guskov (18-4-1 MMA, 4-2-1 UFC) was revealed the replacement for Rountree. 

UFC Abu Dhabi Main Event Met with Boos from Crowd Saturday Night

The main event of the evening was slated for five rounds at five minutes per round to close out the night's schedule of activities in the UAE, but it was clear from the early going that Ankalaev would take control of the bout. At times, the assembled crowd inside Etihad Arena booed the fight due to Ankalaev not actively pursuing a finish in the early rounds. 

Through the first 15 minutes of the advertised 25, it looked as though Magomed Ankalaev would head toward a victory by way of unanimous decision if the fight went the full five rounds. Once the fourth round of the bout commenced, Ankalev began to turn up the heat.

During that fourth round, Ankalaev completed a takedown and landed some ground and pound shots to soften up Bogdan Guskov in hopes of landing a submission. While Ankalaev applied the torque for a submission attempt, Guskov managed to fight it off.

Magomed Ankalaev Scores with Ground and Pound Shots to Spell End of Main Event

Prior to the fifth and final round of the main event, after Magomed Ankalaev did some damage on his opponent, the former's cornermen gave him some simple instructions before their fighter returned to the heat of battle.

"Do your work, that's it. Just finish it up, that's all. You don't need to change anything. Just go to work."

Upon recording another takedown in the last round of the contest, Magomed Ankalaev pursued an anaconda choke submission, only to be thwarted by Bogdan Guskov. From there, he continued to hold serve with the ground game and landed a slew of ground and pound shots.

Referee Marc Godard repeatedly cautioned Bogdan Guskov to move, but Ankalaev's ground and pound only persisted and was ultimately the difference maker on the evening in Abu Dhabi, calling an end to the proceedings at the 2:41 mark of round five.

Magomed Ankalaev on Victory

Following the fifth-round TKO, Magomed Ankalaev was interviewed by UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier. The victorious Ankalaev expressed gratitude to Guskov for accepting the main event assignment on short notice.

"I feel good," Magomed Ankalaev began, through his translator. "Yes, it happened so that the other fighter was off of the card. I want to say thank you to Bogdan for coming here, for saving the fight, so I feel good. Thank you."

Upon Cormier and Ankalaev looking at some of the fight highlights on the video board, the latter talked about adjusting his gameplan during the bout in order to record the finish.

"He wasn't engaging in the striking," he said of Guskov. "I was trying to find him, but he kept on getting away, so I said this before: When the strikers come out against me in the fight, I have to go hunt them. I have to go find them."