Ankalaev Stops Guskov: Round 5 TKO Headlines UFC Abu Dhabi 2026

Magomed Ankalaev stopped Bogdan Guskov by TKO at 2:41 of the fifth round to headline UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday, closing out a one-sided main event at Etihad Arena. The former light heavyweight champion was fighting for the first time since dropping his belt to Alex Pereira last October, and he needed all five rounds against a short-notice replacement to get the finish. What he did not need was much help proving he still belongs at the top of the 205-pound division.

Guskov stepped in for Khalil Rountree Jr., who was originally booked opposite Ankalaev before withdrawing. That is a brutal assignment on short notice, and it showed. Ankalaev controlled range from the opening bell and never let the fight become the brawl Guskov needed.

How the Main Event Played Out

Ankalaev fought like a man with a clear plan. Through the first three rounds he chipped away with rangy kicks and long strikes, leaning on a side kick to keep Guskov at the end of his reach and taking almost nothing meaningful in return. It was measured, technical, and a little quiet, which is the Ankalaev way.

The pace changed in the championship rounds. Ankalaev opened up, widened the gap on the scorecards, and started hunting the finish. By the middle of the fifth he had broken Guskov down completely, and the referee stepped in after a stream of unanswered strikes. It was Ankalaev's first stoppage win since before his title reign, and it came against a live-underdog puncher who had knocked out most of the men in front of him.

For Ankalaev, the message was simple. Losing the belt to Pereira did not end his run at 205 pounds. It reset it.

The Rest of the Main Card

The undercard delivered finishes and debuts, several of them from a wave of Russian prospects.

1. Ramazan Temirov knocked out Steve Erceg with a right hand at 4:21 of the first round in the co-main event. Temirov is now 3-0 inside the Octagon and riding a 12-fight winning streak, and this result should push him into the flyweight rankings. 2. Rizvan Kuniev stopped fellow top-10 heavyweight Tyrell Fortune by TKO at 1:12 of the third round, collecting his first UFC stoppage win and a second straight victory over a top-10 opponent. 3. Magomed Zaynukov battered Damian Rzepecki for a unanimous decision (30-27 across all three cards) to move to 9-0 in his debut against the Polish newcomer. 4. Abubakar Vagaev leaned on his wrestling to grind out a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Saygid Izagakhmaev, extending his winning streak to four in his first UFC appearance.

The preliminary card was even busier, with five of its seven bouts ending inside the distance, including a fifth consecutive submission win for Valter Walker.

Betting and DFS Impact

Ankalaev walked in as a heavy favorite, and the straight moneyline held without much drama. The value on a night like this was never the side, it was the props. A method play on Ankalaev by KO or TKO cashed late, and anyone who backed the fight to reach the championship rounds got paid before the stoppage arrived in the fifth. That combination, chalk favorite plus a live method and total, is exactly the kind of layered card Chad AI is built to map.

The bigger market now is futures. Ankalaev is the clear next name in the light heavyweight title conversation, and a rematch with Pereira for the belt is the fight the division is pointing toward. Any Ankalaev title-shot or rematch line is worth watching over the next few weeks, especially before Pereira's own plans firm up. For the undercard risers, Temirov and Kuniev both graded out as future ranked-opponent futures worth an early look. Chad AI tracks every UFC card, method market, and prop inside the StatSniper app, across the UFC daily picks page, the AI sports picks hub and the Chad picks hub.

What to Watch Next

The immediate question is matchmaking. Ankalaev called for a return to the title picture, and the cleanest path is a rematch with Pereira, assuming the champion is healthy and available. Watch for the UFC's next light heavyweight booking and whether Ankalaev is named the challenger or asked to fight once more first.

For the preview that set up Saturday, revisit our Ankalaev vs Guskov odds breakdown, and for the last big main event before this one, see our du Plessis vs Usman decision recap. Full official results and scorecards are at UFC.com.

FAQ

Who won the UFC Abu Dhabi main event? Magomed Ankalaev beat Bogdan Guskov by TKO (strikes) at 2:41 of the fifth round on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Was the Ankalaev vs Guskov fight for a title? No. It was a five-round non-title light heavyweight main event. Ankalaev lost the light heavyweight championship to Alex Pereira in October 2025, so this was a bout in the title chase, not a title defense.

Why did Bogdan Guskov fight Ankalaev instead of Khalil Rountree Jr.? Rountree Jr. was originally booked to headline the card but withdrew, and Guskov stepped in as the replacement opponent.

What was the biggest undercard result at UFC Abu Dhabi? Ramazan Temirov knocked out Steve Erceg in the first round to extend his winning streak to 12 fights, and Rizvan Kuniev stopped ranked heavyweight Tyrell Fortune in the third.

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