UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov Preview: Full Fight Card Breakdown
The main event was different two weeks ago. Magomed Ankalaev was booked to face Khalil Rountree Jr. at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. On July 13, Rountree withdrew with an injury and Bogdan Guskov accepted the fight on short notice. The card runs July 25 regardless, and the stakes for Ankalaev have not changed: he is a former champion who needs to look like one.
Fight Card
| Fight | Weight Class | Card Section |
|---|---|---|
| Magomed Ankalaev vs. Bogdan Guskov | Light Heavyweight | Main Card |
| Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov | Flyweight | Main Card |
| Wellington Turman vs. Islam Dulatov | Welterweight | Main Card |
| Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov | Lightweight | Main Card |
| Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune | Heavyweight | Main Card |
| Ismael Bonfim vs. Axel Sola | Lightweight | Main Card |
| Valter Walker vs. Thomas Petersen | Heavyweight | Preliminary Card |
| Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Sam Patterson | Welterweight | Preliminary Card |
| Brendson Ribeiro vs. Magomed Tuchalov | Light Heavyweight | Preliminary Card |
| Mike Davis vs. Nurullo Aliev | Lightweight | Preliminary Card |
| Saygid Izagakhmaev vs. Abubakar Vagaev | Welterweight | Announced Bouts |
| Abdul Hussein vs. Cody Gibson | Bantamweight | Announced Bouts |
| Dustin Jacoby vs. Muhammad Said | Light Heavyweight | Announced Bouts |
Main Event: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Bogdan Guskov
Ankalaev (21-2-1) held the UFC light heavyweight title for seven months. He won it at UFC 313 in March 2025 by defeating Alex Pereira in a performance that showcased his wrestling, patience, and ability to read Pereira's timing. The rematch at UFC 320 in October 2025 went the other direction — Pereira stopped him at 1:20 of the first round and reclaimed the belt. Ankalaev remains the No. 1 ranked light heavyweight. He is fighting to stay in that position and to keep the title fight window open.
Guskov (18-3-1) enters on short notice with something to prove. He is ranked No. 10 in the division and has built a reputation on his finishing ability — 18 of his 19 wins have come by stoppage, with 13 of those ending in the first round. In his last five fights, he has not lost. He is a one-fight result away from being considered a legitimate title contender himself.
The stylistic problem Guskov creates is real: he does not need position or sustained pressure to win. One precise exchange can end a fight, and Ankalaev, despite his elite-level wrestling and control, has shown a chin that can be tested. Pereira found it at UFC 320. Guskov will look for the same opening.
For Ankalaev, the blueprint is clear: keep the range, use his wrestling to wear Guskov down, and avoid extended exchanges in the pocket where Guskov's power peaks. A decision win over Guskov does not move the needle the same way a finish would, but it keeps Ankalaev in the title conversation. A loss to a short-notice replacement would push him to the back of the light heavyweight queue.
Co-Main Event: Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov
This flyweight bout is worth watching on its own terms. Steve Erceg (14-4) has been a consistent presence in the top of the UFC flyweight division since 2024. He fights with technical precision, manages distance well, and enters on a two-fight winning streak. Ramazan Temirov (19-3) approaches fights differently: constant movement, high volume, and relentless forward pressure designed to force opponents out of their preferred range.
Erceg is the more composed fighter in high-leverage exchanges. The question is whether Temirov's pace can disrupt that composure before Erceg settles the fight where he wants it. Flyweight produces tight margins, and both fighters have shown the ability to dictate a fight when they impose their rhythm from the opening bell.
Notable Bouts
Ismael Bonfim vs. Axel Sola gives the main card a ranked lightweight. Bonfim has been one of the more active finishers at 155 pounds in the UFC and presents threats in multiple areas.
Santiago Ponzinibbio appears on the preliminary card against Sam Patterson. The Argentine veteran is one of the harder-hitting welterweights still competing at this level, with a history of violent finishes that makes his fights unpredictable. Ponzinibbio at his best is a dangerous card for any welterweight to draw.
Dustin Jacoby vs. Muhammad Said rounds out the light heavyweight portion of the card. Jacoby is a seasoned striker who tends to impose early pressure.
What Is at Stake
The light heavyweight division belongs to Alex Pereira for now. Ankalaev sits directly below in the rankings, and a convincing win on July 25 keeps that title shot argument intact. A stumble against a short-notice opponent would complicate that case considerably. Guskov, for his part, arrives with nothing to lose. That combination — a ranked fighter with everything at stake against a short-notice replacement with only upside — tends to produce memorable fights. Abu Dhabi has seen its share of them.