Former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev returns to the octagon on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, facing short-notice replacement Bogdan Guskov in the UFC Abu Dhabi headliner. Ankalaev seeks his first win since losing the 205-pound belt to Alex Pereira last August.
Magomed Ankalaev Reflects on the Devastating Pereira Loss
It must have been the worst day of my life, I could say,” Ankalaev told MMA Fighting via a Russian translator. “I lost the fight, I lost the belt, and it was really hard for me to get back here. But the time has been taken, the work’s been down, and I’m back a different person.
“I think what people will see this time around is a whole different fighter.”
Magomed Ankalaev, via MMA Fighting
The loss for Ankalaev was just the second of his career, and snapped an incredible 14-fight unbeaten streak, which included a championship win over Pereira at UFC 313 in March 2025. Ankalaev allowed himself to feel sorry about the Pereira result for a few weeks, but then knew he needed to regroup. He said he was down on himself for about a month and could not get himself to train, but eventually returned to the gym and thinks he is in the best shape that he has been, ever.
Bogdan Guskov Steps Up on Short Notice in Abu Dhabi
UFC Abu Dhabi goes down this weekend (Sat., July 25, 2026) from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Magomed Ankalaev vs. Bogdan Guskov will be scheduled for five rounds on Saturday, with Guskov coming in to replace Khalil Rountree Jr. The co-main is Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov. Rounding out the main card is Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman, Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune vs. Magomed Zaynukov and Abubaker Vagaev vs. Sayid Izagakhmaev. The “Prelimsare headlined by Valter Walker vs. Thomas Petersen. Walker is going for his fifth heel hook win in a row! The
Prelims” also have Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Sam Patterson and Ismael Bonfim vs. Axel Sola.
Saturday’s appearance is Ankalaev’s first since losing the title to Alex Pereira last October in Las Vegas. That setback was the first for the 34-year-old from Dagestan since his last-second loss to Paul Craig in his promotional debut, snapping a 14-fight unbeaten streak. Fight versus Magomed is a big test — not just for me, but for everybody,
Guskov said. I understand that when I win this fight, I (will) be first to fight for the title… It’s a title shot (next), 100-percent. I hope this, I believe this, and I (tell) you this is a chance that can change my life.
That distinct possibility is why Guskov didn’t wait a beat to accept this opportunity when presented with it last weekend.
Analyzing the Matchup and Abu Dhabi Setting
UFC Fight Night 282 goes down Saturday at Etihad Arena. Headlined by a Dagestan vs. Uzbekistan light heavyweight contenders’ matchup and featuring a half dozen blue-chip prospects from the Middle East and Central Asia, UFC Abu Dhabi is a solid example of the UFC’s offerings. Abu Dhabi still represents a major gateway to the Octagon for up-and-coming fighters from the region. “Fight Island,as the promotion branded resort destination Yas Island in 2020, introduced Western fans to future stars, champs and contenders including Khamzat Chimaev and
Shara Bullet” Magomedov, which in turn led to such organizations as Brave CF and UAE Warriors becoming first-call feeder orgs for the UFC. While the UFC has broadened its footprint in the region, putting on events in Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Qatar in recent years, the United Arab Emirates is still a reliable once or twice a year destination and the cards are still rich with promising prospects, as well as veteran fighters who in some cases have difficulty obtaining visas to travel to the U.S. or Western Europe for fights.
Sources: Mmafighting.
