Bogdan Guskov releases first statement after lopsided loss to Magomed Ankalaev in UFC Abu Dhabi headliner

Bogdan Guskov has issued his first public statement following a dominant fifth-round TKO loss to former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev in Saturday's UFC Abu Dhabi headliner.

Guskov entered the bout riding a five-fight unbeaten streak but proved unable to match Ankalaev's output throughout the contest. The Russian light heavyweight struggled to find his rhythm, remaining largely uncompetitive for much of the fight. Ankalaev seized control in the latter rounds, eventually taking the bout to the ground where he secured the stoppage in the fifth.

On Monday, Guskov took to social media to address the loss, expressing gratitude to those who supported him while acknowledging the difficult night. "I'm sorry to everyone who believed in me," he wrote. "That night wasn't my night, but I'm grateful for everyone who stood behind me and supported me through this journey. Thank you for all the kind words and messages. I'll learn from this, come back stronger. I'm not done yet."

The loss marks Guskov's second UFC defeat in seven appearances. He was originally scheduled to face Jan Blachowicz in a rematch at this weekend's UFC Belgrade event after their first meeting at UFC 323 ended in a draw, but the opportunity to challenge Ankalaev proved too significant to pass up. Guskov will look to rebuild from this setback and work his way back into contention at light heavyweight.