Ankalaev Keeps Himself in the Title Hunt with Dominant UFC Abu Dhabi Victory
Nine months after losing the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, Magomed Ankalaev returned with a performance that reminded everyone he remains one of the elite fighters at 205 pounds and isn’t going anywhere in the championship conversation.
The former champion immediately forced Bogdan Guskov into fighting his style of fight—a measured, long-range kickboxing battle. Ankalaev dictated the pace from the opening bell, controlling the center of the Octagon, pressing forward, and winning the battle for cage generalship. His calculated combinations and effective kicking game allowed him to comfortably bank the opening three rounds.
After growing tired of chasing the elusive Guskov, Ankalaev changed gears in the championship rounds, taking the fight to the canvas. Returning to the ground in the fifth, Ankalaev’s relentless top control and steady ground-and-pound eventually forced the referee to step in for a TKO victory.
With UFC Light Heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg still recovering from knee surgery and no timetable established for his return, the title picture remains cloudy. The future of former champion Alex Pereira is equally uncertain as questions persist about whether he’ll continue at heavyweight or return to 205 pounds. Ankalaev would undoubtedly welcome the opportunity to settle the score with Pereira after the two men exchanged the championship. While Saturday’s main event lacked fireworks, it accomplished exactly what Ankalaev needed, keeping the Dagestani firmly in the championship mix.
The co-main event belonged to Ramazan Temirov, who emphatically announced his arrival as a flyweight contender by dismantling former title challenger Steve Erceg. Temirov dazzled early with precise spinning back kicks before overwhelming the Australian with crushing overhand rights, earning a first-round TKO at 4:21.
One of the night’s most anticipated debuts belonged to Magomed Zaynukov, and he exceeded expectations. Fighting at range, Zaynukov relentlessly attacked Damian Rzepecki’s lead leg before punishing him in the clinch with devastating elbows that repeatedly opened cuts. Equally impressive was Rzepecki’s toughness, as he somehow remained standing despite absorbing a barrage of elbows and multiple clean teaps to the head. Zaynukov entered the Octagon with considerable hype and somehow left with even more.
Rizvan Kuniev continued establishing himself among the heavyweight elite with a systematic dismantling of Tyrell Fortune. A committed body attack featuring stabbing knees and crushing kicks gradually wore Fortune down. Kuniev had Fortune badly hurt on two occasions in the second round before ending matters in the third with a crushing knee to the head from the clinch. The victory should solidify Kuniev’s place among the division’s top contenders.
Opening the main card, Abubakar Vagaev relied on his outstanding wrestling pedigree and punishing clinch game to build an early lead over Saygid Izagakhmaev before surviving a spirited third-round rally to earn the decision.
Valter Walker continued one of the UFC’s most unique submission streaks, recording his fifth consecutive leg-lock victory. Although his initial heel hook attempt failed after pulling guard, Walker maintained control of Thomas Petersen’s leg in a figure-four position before sitting up and applying tremendous pressure on the hips to force a first-round tap via calf slicer.
Muhammad Saidov enjoyed a spectacular UFC debut by stopping veteran Dustin Jacoby in the second round. The Russian neutralized Jacoby’s forward pressure with sharp hooks, punishing low kicks, and spinning back kicks throughout the opening frame. With Jacoby’s offense slowed, Saidov poured on the pressure in Round 2, using a right hand followed by a left high kick to spark an avalanche of strikes that forced the stoppage.
Sam Patterson earned the seventh knockout victory of his career by finishing longtime veteran Santiago Ponzinibbio in the second round. Ponzinibbio’s early aggression faded as Patterson’s piston-like jab repeatedly found its mark. Straight punches steadily broke down the Argentine before a left hook scored the first knockdown. Patterson wisely allowed his opponent to stand before landing a perfectly placed right hand above the left eye that sent Ponzinibbio crashing back to the canvas for the finish.
Axel Sola picked up his second UFC victory with a slick first-round submission over Ismael Bonfim. After stuffing Bonfim’s early takedown attempts with sharp elbows, Sola quickly reversed positions and attacked with front chokes before locking up a fight-ending D’Arce choke for the second submission win of his professional career.
Magomed Tuchalov overcame any Octagon jitters by investing heavily in body attacks that eventually opened up Ribeiro’s head. Mixing effective striking with timely grappling in the third round, Tuchalov earned a unanimous decision over Brendson Ribeiro in an impressive promotional debut.
Nurullo Aliev continued his unbeaten UFC run, utilizing eight takedowns to secure a dominant unanimous decision victory over Mike Davis, improving to 5-0 inside the Octagon.
Opening the card, Abdul Hussein made a successful UFC debut by submitting The Ultimate Fighter 31 finalist Cody Gibson with a third-round arm-triangle choke. Gibson threatened with submissions early, but once Hussein weathered the initial storm, he steadily wore down his short-notice opponent before finding the finish.
UFC Abu Dhabi showcased a new wave of talent making statements across multiple divisions. While Ankalaev reaffirmed his status as a title contender in the main event, standout performances from Temirov, Zaynukov, Saidov, Kuniev, and others demonstrated that the UFC’s next generation continues to arrive with championship aspirations.
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