Illness Scratches Dulatov-Turman From UFC Abu Dhabi Main Card

The main card at UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov just got a little lighter. Islam Dulatov has been pulled from his welterweight bout with Wellington Turman due to illness, and rather than shuffle the pairing elsewhere, the promotion has scrapped the fight entirely from Saturday's slate at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

It's a frustrating scratch for anyone tracking Dulatov's climb. The 12-1 prospect walked into this one riding momentum, having flattened Adam Fugitt with a first-round KO in his last outing. Eight of his 12 wins have come by knockout, and he'd been a genuine test for Turman, a 18-8 grappler who owns eight submission victories but is coming off a rear-naked choke loss to Jared Gooden.

Ankalaev vs. Guskov Stays Intact

The removal doesn't touch the top of the bill. Ankalaev vs. Guskov still headlines, and it's the reason the card had eyes on it in the first place. Magomed Ankalaev, the division's No. 1 contender at 21-2-1, returns after eating elbows from Alex Pereira in a first-round loss that cost him ground in the 205-pound picture.

Across from him stands Bogdan Guskov, the No. 9-ranked light heavyweight who has quietly become one of the division's more dangerous finishers. His 18-3-1 record includes 15 knockouts, a finish rate that jumps off the page. His most recent night out was a three-round draw with former champ Jan Blachowicz, so he arrives with something to prove.

What's At Stake

For Guskov, this is the kind of jump that reshapes a career. Beat a former champion in Ankalaev and the top five stops being a talking point and starts being a reality. Ankalaev, meanwhile, needs a clean, convincing performance to remind everyone he's still the closest thing to a mandatory challenger at 205.

Dulatov-Turman will presumably get rebooked once Dulatov is healthy, but that's a problem for another week. Tonight the focus narrows to the light heavyweights up top, and the card carries on without the welterweight undercard piece. UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov goes live from Abu Dhabi on Saturday, July 25.