Ankalaev seeks a third fight with Pereira, but first he must stop Guskov in Abu Dhabi
Magomed Ankalaev has once again raised the question of a decisive fight with Alex Pereira, convinced that their 1-1 head-to-head record cannot be the final chapter of one of the most important rivalries in the UFC light heavyweight division's recent history. The former champion said he would most like to see the Brazilian return to the 205-pound limit, where they contested their first two bouts, so that a third meeting could provide a definitive answer. Pereira, however, left the light heavyweight division and moved up to heavyweight after regaining the title, and according to his statements so far, he has no intention of returning anytime soon. Ankalaev therefore does not rule out the possibility of following him to heavyweight, although it is clear that such a scenario currently exists only as an ambition and not as an official UFC plan. Before any discussion about a trilogy, the Russian fighter must confirm that he still belongs at the very top of his natural division.
His first step comes on July 25, 2026, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, where he will face Bogdan Guskov in the main event of a UFC Fight Night card. The UFC has officially confirmed that the bout will take place at light heavyweight and is scheduled for five rounds. Ankalaev is listed as the number-one contender in the official rankings, while Guskov enters as the division's ninth-ranked fighter, giving the matchup direct significance in the race for a future title opportunity. For Ankalaev, it is a return following his difficult loss to Pereira in October 2025, while Guskov receives the biggest opportunity of his career after accepting the fight on short notice. The winner will not automatically receive a title shot, but it will be extremely difficult to exclude him from discussions about the light heavyweight division's next major matchup.
A rivalry that produced completely different pictures in two fights
The first meeting between Ankalaev and Pereira took place on March 8, 2025, at UFC 313 in Las Vegas. According to the organization's official results, Ankalaev won by unanimous decision after five rounds, with scores of 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47, taking the UFC light heavyweight title from the Brazilian. The bout did not produce a finish, but it demonstrated Ankalaev's ability to control the pace, limit Pereira's most dangerous attacks and impose conditions that suited him better for most of the fight. That ended a period in which Pereira had become one of the organization's biggest stars thanks to a series of victories in title fights. Ankalaev captured the belt he had pursued for so long, but his reign did not last long enough for him to record a single successful defense.
The rematch took place on October 4, 2025, at UFC 320, again in Las Vegas, and ended almost completely opposite to the first encounter. The UFC's official results state that Pereira won by technical knockout after only one minute and 20 seconds of the opening round. The Brazilian came out aggressively from the start, quickly pressured the champion and ended the fight with a series of strikes before Ankalaev could establish his usual rhythm. Pereira thereby regained the title, leveled their head-to-head record and left the question of a third meeting unresolved. Ankalaev now describes his first victory as a convincing display of control, while viewing the rematch defeat as an exception and a mistake that he does not consider a true reflection of the balance of power between them.
In an interview reported by theScore, the Dagestani said that, if the decision were his, he would want Pereira to return to the light heavyweight division for the deciding fight. He also assessed that the Brazilian's move to heavyweight had been extremely demanding, especially because his debut came against a technical and mobile opponent such as Ciryl Gane. In other statements, Ankalaev emphasized that, if necessary, he could pursue the third fight at heavyweight as well. Those messages show that completing the rivalry matters more to him than the division in which the bout would take place. Nevertheless, his desire alone is not enough because Pereira currently has a different sporting direction, and the UFC has not announced that it is considering their third meeting.
Pereira's move to heavyweight did not begin according to plan
After his second fight with Ankalaev, Pereira vacated the light heavyweight belt and turned his attention toward a historic attempt to win a UFC title in a third weight division. The Brazilian striker had previously been champion at middleweight and light heavyweight, so by moving up to heavyweight he attempted to accomplish a feat that no fighter in the organization's history had completed. At UFC Freedom 250, held on June 14, 2026, in Washington, he faced Ciryl Gane in a fight for the interim heavyweight title. According to the UFC's official report, Gane won by technical knockout in the second round and ended Pereira's first attempt to capture a third belt. The defeat raised a new question about the Brazilian's next move, but it did not lead to an official announcement of his return to light heavyweight.
According to the available information, Pereira still plans to compete at heavyweight, although his next opponent has not been confirmed. Such a decision significantly complicates Ankalaev's idea of a trilogy because the UFC generally has to align the sporting rankings, fighter availability and broader title plans across two different divisions. Pereira could fight his way back toward the top at heavyweight, while Ankalaev must rebuild his own status after his first defeat since 2018. A third fight between them is therefore commercially attractive, but at this moment it is not necessarily the simplest sporting solution. Its likelihood will primarily depend on the results both men achieve in their next appearances.
Ahead of Abu Dhabi, Ankalaev emphasized that he believes the story is not over because each fighter has one victory. That argument has clear sporting logic: the first fight lasted all 25 minutes and went to Ankalaev on the scorecards, while the second ended with a rapid Pereira finish. A third meeting would answer the question of whether Ankalaev's ability to maintain long-term control was more important or whether Pereira's power to completely change a fight in a brief moment mattered more. At the same time, the circumstances have changed because neither of them is currently the UFC light heavyweight champion. A potential trilogy today would therefore primarily be a major fight between two former champions, and only secondarily a direct title confrontation.
Guskov is a dangerous opponent, not a stepping stone
Ankalaev was originally scheduled to face Khalil Rountree Jr., but the American fighter withdrew because of an injury less than two weeks before the event. The UFC then changed the main event, and Guskov agreed to step in and fight five rounds against the former champion. The Uzbek fighter had previously been scheduled to face Jan Błachowicz at an event in Belgrade in early August, meaning the change affected two of the organization's cards. Guskov accepted the biggest challenge of his career without a full training cycle specifically focused on Ankalaev. Such a decision carries enormous risk, but also a potential reward that could immediately open a path toward a title fight if he wins.
According to data published by the UFC and specialist combat sports media, Guskov has earned all 18 of his professional victories by stoppage. His run of four consecutive finishes was halted by a majority draw against former champion Jan Błachowicz, but that result did not diminish the impression that he belongs among the division's most dangerous strikers. His victory over Nikita Krylov in Abu Dhabi in July 2025 stood out in particular, when he won by technical knockout in the first round. Guskov is therefore returning to the same arena where he recorded one of the most important victories of his career. In an interview with the UFC, he described Ankalaev as a complete and exceptionally demanding opponent and emphasized that he would have to show the best version of himself to win.
For Ankalaev, the change of opponent is not insignificant. Rountree and Guskov have different habits, rhythms and attacking patterns, so the final part of his preparations could no longer be directed toward the same tactical picture. At the same time, the former champion enters as a major favorite because of his experience in five-round fights, his clinch work, his control of space and his ability to combine striking and wrestling threats. Guskov, on the other hand, does not carry the same pressure of expectations and can rely on the fact that almost every victory of his career has come before the final bell. That is precisely why Ankalaev cannot treat this fight merely as an introduction to another chapter with Pereira.
The light heavyweight division awaits clarity regarding its injured champion
While Ankalaev attempts to return to a title-contender position, the light heavyweight championship is held by Carlos Ulberg. On April 11, 2026, at UFC 327, the New Zealander knocked out Jiří Procházka in the first round and won the vacant belt. Shortly after the fight, it was confirmed that he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the bout and had undergone surgery. ESPN reported that the injury occurred in the first round, before the finishing attack that made Ulberg champion. This means that the top of the division is currently marked by uncertainty surrounding the timing of his return.
As of July 23, 2026, the UFC had not officially announced Ulberg's next title defense or an interim championship fight. That gives the bout between Ankalaev and Guskov additional importance, although its position in the division's future development has not yet been formally defined. A convincing Ankalaev victory would return the former champion to a very strong position, particularly because he sits at the top of the contender rankings and already owns a victory over Pereira. An upset by Guskov would remove the highest-ranked rival and create a completely new situation in the division. The organization will also have to assess how long it can wait for Ulberg and whether it should arrange a fight in the meantime to determine the number-one contender or an interim champion.
Ankalaev therefore has two objectives in Abu Dhabi. The first is immediate and sporting: defeat Guskov, rebound from the loss and prove that the brief second fight with Pereira did not signal a decline in his level. The second is strategic: remain important enough in the division to choose between another title run and a major trilogy with the Brazilian. A defeat would almost certainly postpone both plans, while a victory would reopen several possible paths. That is why his public callout of Pereira makes sense only if it is followed by a result inside the Octagon.
A third fight appeals to the audience, but it still has no official framework
The rivalry between Ankalaev and Pereira contains almost every element necessary for a major third fight: two title bouts, one victory for each man, completely different endings and a lasting disagreement about who is actually the better fighter. Ankalaev believes that he showed a more complete game throughout the first encounter, while Pereira can argue that he produced the clearest possible result in the rematch. Such a dynamic naturally creates interest in a deciding contest. However, the UFC schedule is shaped not only by unresolved rivalries, but also by the current rankings, the champion's health and fighters' plans in other divisions.
Pereira has not yet announced a return date following his loss to Gane, while Ankalaev still has to make his first appearance since losing the belt. It would therefore be premature to discuss the trilogy as an agreed or likely fight. At present, it is a publicly expressed desire from one of the two fighters, one that has commercial logic but lacks confirmation from the organization and the consent of the other side. Pereira has so far prioritized continuing his career at heavyweight, while Ankalaev remains focused on the top of the light heavyweight division. Their paths may cross again, but before that both men must resolve their own challenges.
For Ankalaev, the answer will begin to emerge in Abu Dhabi. If he defeats Guskov convincingly, he will once again have arguments for a fight with Ulberg, a potential interim title bout or a major matchup outside the strict logic of the rankings. If he fails, the Pereira story will remain more of a personal ambition than a realistic next step. Guskov, meanwhile, arrives intending to take advantage of the short-notice opportunity and completely reshape the division's hierarchy. That is why the main event at Etihad Arena is not merely Ankalaev's return, but also a test of whether his unfinished rivalry with Pereira still has a sporting foundation.
Sources:
- theScore – Ankalaev's statements about his desire for a third fight, Pereira's continued stay in the heavyweight division and the context of the Abu Dhabi matchup (link)
- UFC – official results and judges' scorecards from the first fight between Ankalaev and Pereira at UFC 313 (link)
- UFC – official result of the rematch between Ankalaev and Pereira at UFC 320 (link)
- UFC – official schedule, location and lineup for the Ankalaev versus Guskov event in Abu Dhabi (link)
- UFC – Guskov's profile ahead of the main event, his assessment of Ankalaev and the context of accepting the fight on short notice (link)
- UFC – official report from UFC Freedom 250 and Pereira's defeat to Ciryl Gane in the heavyweight division (link)
- UFC – official information about current light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg (link)
- ESPN – report on Ulberg's anterior cruciate ligament injury and surgery after winning the title (link)