UFC Abu Dhabi predictions

Magomed Ankalaev faces a critical moment in his career at UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The light heavyweight contender lost his title reign in shocking fashion—knocked out by Alex Pereira in under 90 seconds at UFC 320 in October—and now must rebuild his standing among the elite at 205 pounds.

Ankalaev's scheduled opponent, Khalil Rountree Jr., withdrew, forcing the UFC to call on rising contender Bogdan Guskov, who was originally preparing to rematch Jan Blachowicz at UFC Belgrade. Despite the opponent change, the matchmakers sent a clear message: Ankalaev cannot afford another loss if he hopes to remain in title contention. Guskov, riding a five-fight winning streak and unranked, represents both an opportunity and a threat. The 12th-ranked prospect holds genuine knockout power and arrives with nothing to lose.

Ankalaev's path to recovery hinges on executing the defensive and offensive game that earned him his title shot after a seven-year unbeaten run. His footwork and timing have historically allowed him to neutralize aggressive opponents—though his demolition at the hands of Alex Pereira raises questions. Experts expect Ankalaev to frustrate Guskov over the first two rounds before securing a stoppage late, assuming he avoids the early mistakes that cost him against Pereira.

Other notable matchups on the card include Steve Erceg defending his gatekeeper status against Ramazan Temirov, Islam Dulatov showcasing his talent in a striking clinic versus Wellington Turman, and Dana White's Contender Series graduate Magomed Zaynukov making his UFC debut against undefeated newcomer Damian Rzepecki.

The event takes place Saturday, July 25, at Etihad Arena, with the preliminary card starting at 9 a.m. ET and the main card at 12 p.m. ET on Paramount+.