Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Magomed Ankalaev began his comeback mission to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title with a victory over Bogdan Guskov at Abu Dhabi’s UFC Fight Night 282 on Saturday night.
Uzbekistan’s Guskov stepped in as a late replacement for Khalil Rountree Jr, presenting Ankalaev with a different challenge ahead of the five-round main event at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The Russian, however, found it difficult to impose his striking game for long periods as both fighters remained cautious in the opening rounds.
Ankalaev eventually secured the finish with a submission grip late in the final round as Guskov began to tire. The Russian landed enough mini-punches for referee Marc Goddard to call it off with just over a minute left for the final bell.
The victory was significant for Ankalaev, not least because it moved him to 13 wins in the UFC’s 205-pound division, among the most by an active fighter in the weight class. More importantly, the result puts him back in contention for another shot at the title and a potential third meeting with Alex Pereira, with the rivalry currently standing at 1-1.
Ankalaev dethroned the Brazilian to become champion before losing the rematch by knockout in 28 seconds earlier this year. The Russian has consistently maintained that the stoppage was an "accident" and that he was carrying an injury, rather than the result being a fair reflection of the rivalry. Saturday’s victory gives him the opportunity to rebuild momentum and resume his pursuit of the belt.
"I was out for a long time, I had to come back," Ankalaev said in his post-fight interview. "Now I'm back. Now I'm going to start my hunt for that thing that I lost."
The win puts Ankalaev back on track after Pereira snapped the Russian’s 14-fight unbeaten streak, which stretched back to his UFC debut in 2018.
For Guskov, the result was only the second defeat of his Octagon career. He entered Saturday’s contest on a 4-0-1 UFC run after falling short against Volkan Oezdemir on his promotional debut in 2023.
Khamzat Chimaev, one of the latest stars associated with the Dagestani school of mixed martial arts, was in the audience and also appeared in the corner for fellow Dagestani fighters Abubakar Vagaev and debutant Magomed Zaynukov. Both delivered strong performances on their first major UFC night.
The contrast was particularly notable after Uzbekistan’s Ramazan Temirov produced a thrilling knockout victory over Australia’s Steve Erceg earlier on the card.
With three Uzbek fighters competing on the card, the diminutive Temirov, standing at 5ft 4in, provided a memorable highlight for his country and set the tone for the co-main event. His performance earned him the Fight of the Night bonus of $100,000, an announcement he received in a cheerful mood while on dais speaking to the media.
Temirov had every reason to celebrate after returning to action following a gap of more than 500 days and extending his unbeaten streak to 12 fights with Saturday’s victory.
Meanwhile, the card was reduced to 12 fights after Islam Dulatov withdrew at the last minute after being hospitalised with an infection.
Dulatov, a 12-1 welterweight and former Versace model, had been scheduled to face Wellington Turman, who had spoken about his excitement at returning to competition after multiple surgeries during a three-year absence from the Octagon.
RESULTS
Main card:
Magomed Ankalaev def. Bogdan Guskov (TKO)
Ramazan Temirov def. Steve Erceg (TKO)
Magomed Zaynukov def. Damian Rzepecki (unanimous decision)
Rizvan Kuniev def. Tyrell Fortune (TKO)
Abubakar Vagaev def. Saygid Izagakhmaev (unanimous decision)
Preliminary card:
Valter Walker def. Thomas Petersen (submission)
Muhammad Saidov def. Dustin Jacoby (TKO)
Sam Patterson def. Santiago Ponzinibbio (TKO)
Axel Sola def. Ismael Bonfim (submission)
Magomed Tuchalov def. Brendson Ribeiro (unanimous decision)
Nurullo Aliev def. Mike Davis (unanimous decision)
Abdul Hussein def. Cody Gibson (submission)
