Ankalaev's Road Back Starts vs Guskov, 90 Seconds After His Reign Ended

Magomed Ankalaev spent seven years building an unbeaten streak just to earn a title shot. He needed less than 90 seconds to lose the belt, courtesy of an Alex Pereira knockout at UFC 320 last October. Now he headlines UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday, July 25, trying to prove that the man who got sparked in a minute and a half wasn't the real version.

His opponent is Bogdan Guskov (18-3-1), the No. 9-ranked light heavyweight who stepped in after Khalil Rountree Jr. withdrew. Guskov was supposed to be rematching Jan Blachowicz in Belgrade next week; instead he's got a main event and a live shot at cracking the top five. With 15 of his 18 wins coming by knockout, he doesn't need to outbox anyone. He needs one clean shot.

That's the whole subplot here. Ankalaev's game is defusing pressure — footwork, chin off the center line, wearing opponents down before finding his own finish. But Guskov is exactly the kind of fighter who ignores technique disparities and just throws until something lands. If he walks Ankalaev down chucking leather, the math tilts fast. The reasonable read is Ankalaev frustrates him for two rounds and closes late, but nobody clipped this hard by Pereira gets the benefit of the doubt for free.

The Co-Main Picture

The co-main slots offer better clarity. Steve Erceg is one of the division's toughest gatekeepers, though he's a notorious slow starter — Kai Kara-France caught him early once. He draws Ramazan Temirov, a 29-year-old Uzbek fighter back from a one-year drug suspension and inactive for over 500 days. Temirov hunts finishes early but proved he can grind a decision when he outstruck Charles Johnson, now the No. 14 flyweight. If Erceg survives the opening round, he usually collects data and outthinks people. Temirov's aggression feels like the pick on points anyway.

Then there's the showcase. Welterweight prospect Islam Dulatov is the card's biggest favorite at -950 on FanDuel, and that might be flattering to Wellington Turman, who's dropped three straight since early 2022 and battled shoulder problems for most of three years. This is a highlight-reel setup for Dulatov, full stop.

Debuts and Undercard Watch

Debut watch: Magomed Zaynukov — better known online as 'Chanco' — finally arrives after a buzzy Contender Series run and repeated endorsements from Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov. At 31, the memes need to become results. He's paired with fellow undefeated newcomer Damian Rzepecki, a former Fight Exclusive Night lightweight champ, and honestly it's a coin flip. Zaynukov's boxing volume should edge a decision, but Rzepecki only needs one heavy shot.

The heavyweight intrigue belongs to Tyrell Fortune, who spent years as a good-not-great Bellator body before shocking Marcin Tybura in his UFC debut. One more win and he's got a single digit next to his name. Rizvan Kuniev is the tidier bet — strong, sneaky-good cardio, nothing flashy — and a finish before the halfway point would spare everyone. Elsewhere, Abubakar Vagaev (24-4) meets Saygid Izagakhmaev in a grappling-versus-grinder clash. The seven-fight prelims start at 9 a.m. ET, main card at noon, all on Paramount+.