Magomed Ankalaev VS Bogdan Guskov

Magomed Ankalaev made a methodical and calculated return to the win column against late-replacement Bogdan Guskov. For the first four rounds, Ankalaev utilized a highly patient game plan, managing distance perfectly with kicks and repeatedly snapping side kicks into Guskov's midsection to halt any forward momentum. Guskov simply had no answers for the technical striking on the outside. In the fifth round, Ankalaev shifted gears and initiated grappling exchanges. After securing a takedown, he shrugged off a desperate choke attempt from Guskov, took top position, and began raining down heavy ground-and-pound. The relentless punishment forced referee Marc Goddard to step in and wave off the fight at 2:41 of the final round, granting Ankalaev an emphatic TKO victory.

Ankalaev enters this fight as a former UFC light heavyweight champion who captured the belt from Alex Pereira in March 2025 before losing it via first-round TKO in the October 2025 rematch — a result that raised real questions about his durability under pressure. Guskov steps in on less than two weeks' notice replacing the injured Khalil Rountree Jr., bringing an unblemished finishing record across all 18 of his professional wins and 13 first-round stoppages, making him one of the most dangerous short-notice replacements the division has seen.