UFC Abu Dhabi Features Explosive Main Card Saturday

UFC Abu Dhabi fight week continues. Saturday night, Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates serves as the setting for this week's UFC event. Live coverage of UFC Abu Dhabi commences at the earlier start time of 9 am ET/ 6 am PT with the prelims.

Inside the United States of America, this card will be seen from start to end via Paramount Plus.  Main card action immediately follows at 12 noon ET/ 9 am PT.

If there are no further adjustments to the card's itinerary, the final version of UFC Abu Dhabi will feature a slate of 13 bouts. Last week, there was a change to the evening's main event.

UFC Abu Dhabi Main Event: No. 1 Contender Magomed Ankalev vs. No. 9 Contender Bogdan Guskov: Ankalaev Looking to Rebound from "Poatan" Loss

At the top of the bill, the light heavyweights take to the cage for a contest between No. 1 contender Magomed Ankalaev (21-2-1, 1 NC MMA, 12-2-1, 1 NC UFC) and No. 9 contender Bogdan Guskov (18-3-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) in a short-notice bout for the latter. This is a five-round fight at five minutes per round to close the show.

Magomed Ankalaev enters the UFC Abu Dhabi main event on Saturday night with a record of 2-1-1 with one no-contest in his last five fights. Back in October, he dropped a first-round knockout to Alex Pereira (13-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) during UFC 320's main event for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

Recently, Ankalaev discussed the pain of the Oct. 4 loss to "Poatan," who's since moved to the heavyweight ranks.

"It must have been the worst day of my life," he said. "I lost the fight, I lost the belt, and it was really hard for me to get back here."

Ankalaev has had over nine months to reflect on what went wrong that October weekend. How will he fare in his return bout?

Bogdan Guskov Steps In on Short Notice for UFC Abu Dhabi

Meanwhile, Bogdan Guskov comes into the co-main event having accepted the July 25 fight on less than two weeks notice as a substitute for Magomed Ankalaev's original opponent, Khalil Rountree Jr. Rountree withdrew from UFC Abu Dhabi due to injury.

Guskov has a record of 4-0-1 in his last five fights. Last time out, he fought to a majority draw vs. Jan Blachowicz (29-11-2 MMA, 12-8-2 UFC) in UFC 323 on Dec. 6. A rematch for this past May was called off due to Blachowicz suffering a torn meniscus.

The pairing was then rebooked once again for next Saturday in UFC Belgrade but was scrubbed once the vacancy for July 25 became available. Guskov sits at No. 9 in the rankings at 205 and suddenly finds himself facing the top contender. A victory here would certainly build his resume.

UFC Abu Dhabi Co-Main Event: No. 10 Contender Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov: Erceg Aiming for 15th Pro Win

Immediately beforehand, the co-main attraction of UFC Abu Dhabi takes place in the flyweight division. No. 10 contender Steve Erceg (11-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) makes his second appearance in under three months' time against Ramazan Temirov (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC.) This is a three-round fight at five minutes per round.

Steve Erceg comes into the co-main attraction on the strength of a 2-3 record in his last five outings. On May 2, he scored a unanimous decision victory over Tim Elliott (21-14-1 MMA, 10-12 UFC) after three rounds.

"Astroboy" has been a streaky fighter of late, winning two bouts in succession after dropping three fights in a row. Which version of Steve Erceg shows up on Yas Island this Saturday evening? 

Ramazan Temirov Returns to UFC After Year-Plus Hiatus 

Across the way, Ramazan Temirov enters UFC Abu Dhabi Saturday night with a 5-0 record in his last five MMA fights. He's on an 11-fight winning streak dating back to April of 2021.

On the night of March 1, 2025, he scored his second win under the UFC promotional banner against Charles Johnson (19-9 MMA, 8-7 UFC) by way of unanimous decision. Following that fight, Johnson was to have fought Asu Almabayev, but the fight was canceled last summer due to his withdrawal from the event.

He's had close to 17 months away from MMA. What kind of ring rust does Temirov have going into UFC Abu Dhabi?

UFC Abu Dhabi: Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman: Dulatov Makes Second Walk to Octagon After Year Away

Also on the UFC Abu Dhabi main card, the welterweights take to the cage when Islam Dulatov (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) battles Wellington Turman (18-8 MMA, 3-6 UFC.) Dulatov will be walking to the cage for the first time in 53 weeks this Saturday after going 5-0 in his past five appearances as part of a 12-fight winning streak. 

Last year, he made his first UFC appearance, winning by way of first-round knockout versus Adam Fugitt (10-6 MMA, 2-4 UFC.) In so doing, Dulatov secured the $50,000 (USD) bonus for the Performance of the Night.

Islam Dulatov hasn't fought in over a year. After a lengthy hiatus, can he secure his 13th consecutive victory?   

Wellington Turman Looking to End Three-Fight Losing Streak

In the other corner, Wellington Turman is facing the reverse predicament with a 2-3 record in his last five bouts. He's dropped three bouts in a row heading into UFC Abu Dhabi.

He hasn't fought in MMA in over two and a half years. Back on Dec. 2, 2023, he was on the receiving end of a second-round submission (rear-naked choke) from Jared Gooden.

With such a long hiatus away, can Turman end the winning streak of his opponent? Tune in and find out.

Rest of the Card

UFC Abu Dhabi's main card is rounded out by these contests:

• a lightweight fight matching Damian Rzepecki (10-0 MMA, UFC promotional debut) against Magomed Zaynukov (8-0 MMA, UFC promotional debut,)
• a heavyweight encounter between No. 8 contender Rizvan Kuniev (14-3-1, 1 NC MMA, 1-1 UFC) and No. 9 contender Tyrell Fortune (18-3, 2 NC MMA, 1-0 UFC,)
• and a welterweight showcase versing Abubakaer Vagaev (24-4 MMA, UFC promotional debut) with Saygid Izagakhmaev (22-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC.)