42 fighters will compete across the UFC Abu Dhabi card at Etihad Arena, with the main event set for Saturday, July 25, 2026. The spotlight is on the light heavyweight showdown between No. 2-ranked Magomed Ankalaev and Bogdan Guskov. Ankalaev, the -535 favorite, is back in the octagon for the first time since October 2025, when he lost a submission fight to Alex Pereira at UFC 320. That loss ended an 11-fight winning streak and cost him a title shot.
Bogdan Guskov was originally scheduled to fight Jan Blachowicz in August in Serbia, but with Khalil Rountree Jr. pulling out of the main event, Guskov steps into his first UFC main event. His last fight ended in a controversial draw with Blachowicz in December 2025, with many feeling the decision in favor of the Ukrainian was justified. Before that, Guskov recorded a TKO win over Nikita Krylov and a submission against Billy Elekana, showing a strong run of performances.
Ankalaev’s Takedown Defense vs. Guskov’s Knockout Power
Despite his recent loss, Ankalaev remains a dangerous fighter. He’s only lost three times in 24 career fights—two via decision to Pereira and Blachowicz, and one submission to Paul Craig. His wrestling ability, though not his strongest tool, is enough to threaten Guskov, whose takedown defense is just 57 percent. Every UFC fighter who’s attempted a takedown against Guskov has landed one, with the exception of Zac Pauga. Ankalaev will look to exploit that weakness.
But Guskov brings knockout power into the fight. His TKO over Krylov and his almost finish in round two against Blachowicz suggest he can end fights quickly. The question for bettors is whether he can land that shot before Ankalaev closes the distance and grinds the fight into the ground.
Steve Erceg enters his fight with Ramazan Temirov with a 5-3 record in the UFC. He’s coming off a win over Tim Elliott in May, with a prior victory over Ode Osbourne. Before that, he lost to Brandon Moreno and to champion Alexandre Pantoja, a fight many felt was closer than the scorecards showed. Erceg, a -115 underdog, is a tough, durable fighter who can absorb punishment and keep coming forward.
Temirov, on the other hand, is a 24-year-old Russian who’s only fought twice in the UFC. He’s coming off a decision win and looks like a rising name in the division, with his power and grappling catching attention. But with so little UFC experience, it’s unclear how he’ll handle a grizzled fighter like Erceg.
The fight between Ankalaev and Guskov remains a tossup despite Ankalaev’s heavy betting line. The -13.5 point spread feels too big, and the round total of 2.5 rounds is difficult to call. Ankalaev wins, likely by decision, but not necessarily by a wide margin. One fight analyst recommends a parlay of Ankalaev to win and Over 1.5 rounds at -120. It’s not the most exciting pick, but it’s the most likely to hold up.
Across the rest of the card, fights like Islam Dulatov vs. Tyrell Fortune offer high action with less clear-cut betting angles. The prelims, headlined by Valter Walker, look promising as he chases a fifth consecutive heel hook victory, a streak that could draw more attention than the main event itself.