Magomed Ankalaev sets condition for Paulo Costa UFC fight

Magomed Ankalaev defeated Bogdan Guskov by ground-and-pound in the final round at UFC Abu Dhabi, a dominant performance that nonetheless drew criticism for its slow pace. Guskov had accepted the bout on two weeks' notice after Khalil Rountree withdrew due to injury. Despite his victory, Ankalaev faced backlash from observers including Paulo Costa, who vowed to inject excitement into the light heavyweight division. "By the power of the Almighty, I shall save this weight class from monotony and boredom," Costa posted on X, positioning himself as a remedy to what he characterized as tedious competition at 205 pounds.

Ankalaev (21-2) defended his fight strategy, noting that Guskov repeatedly retreated despite his own forward pressure, forcing tactical adjustments. When asked about a potential matchup with Costa (16-4), the champion set a clear condition: Costa must come forward aggressively. "If he's ready to press forward, we'll be waiting for him," Ankalaev said. "But if he's going to run and shy away, I see no point in fighting him."

Costa, coming off wins over Roman Kopylov and previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov, has branded himself a "Russian killer" and repositioned himself at light heavyweight after struggling at middleweight. Ankalaev's conditional acceptance suggests that Costa's willingness to engage will determine whether this potential clash materializes.