Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev returned to the winning column this week following a laborious win over last-minute addition Bogdan Guskov at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night.
The Main event commenced at a relatively timid pace, with neither fighter showcasing a high-level of striking output.
Guskov, who stepped in on short-notice, battled to figure Ankalaev out with the latter being patient in picking his shots.
It was much of the same from both fighters in the second round as fans at the Etihad Arena voiced their discontent with boos all around.
While Ankalaev landed a few lefts and a head kick, Guskov failed to impose himself and later resorted to short leg kicks and jabs in an attempt to figure out a suitable distance.
While there was little action in the third round, apart from Ankalaev finding success with leg kicks, the former Light Heavyweight champion shot for a takedown in the fourth as Guskov scrambled to the canvas.
With Guskov exposing his back, Ankalaev attempted a rear-naked choke and a neck-crank on two separate occasions that was eventually stuffed.
As the two hugged at the beginning of the fifth round, Guskov countered a takedown attempt by going for an anaconda choke that injected some excitement into the crowd.
Then, in a dramatic turn of events, Ankalaev managed to gain control on the ground before unloading a series of ground-and-pound hits, prompting referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight.
Staying on course 🫡@AnkalaevM earns the RD5 TKO victory at #UFCAbuDhabi! pic.twitter.com/HPJu8f3mzZ
— UFC (@ufc) July 25, 2026
In the Co-main event, Ramazan Temirov made a successful return to the octagon following an extended lay-off with a knockout win over Steve Erceg in the first round.
Temirov applied pressure from the first buzzer and had his opponent on the backfoot early on.
Erceg, who hails from Austrailia, battled to find rhythm as a result of the Uzbekistan’s pressure and ultimately fell to a powerful right-hand before the referee waved off the fight.
OH MY GOODNESS 🤯
— UFC (@ufc) July 25, 2026
Ramazan Temirov put everyone on their feet with a RD1 finish!
[ #UFCAbuDhabi | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/NsrrEzOJB1
Elsewhere, Rizvan Kuniev put the Heavyweight division on notice following a TKO victory over fellow Top 10 contender Tyrell Fortune early in Round three.
Kuniev had Fortune hurt on a couple of occasions throughout the fight as he denied his opposite number control in the clinch before walking him down with continuous strikes to see out the fight.
A true contender at heavyweight 👀
— UFC (@ufc) July 25, 2026
Rizvan Kuniev was relentless to get the win!
[ #UFCAbuDhabi | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/ZDLeUFcD3w
UFC FIGHT NIGHT MAIN CARD RESULTS
Magomed Ankalaev defeated Bogdan Guskov by TKO (strikes) at 2:41 of Round 5
Ramazan Temirov defeated Steve Erceg by KO (right hand) at 4:21 of Round 1
Magomed Zaynukov defeated Damian Rzepecki by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Rizvan Kuniev defeated Tyrell Fortune by TKO (strikes) at 1:12 of Round 3
Abubakar Vagaev defeated Saygid Izagakhmaev by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)