Major change in Abu Dhabi: Bogdan Guskov steps in against Magomed Ankalaev after Khalil Rountree withdraws
The main event of the UFC card in Abu Dhabi, scheduled for July 25, 2026, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, has received a new participant less than two weeks before it takes place. Khalil Rountree Jr. will not face former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev, and Uzbek knockout artist Bogdan Guskov will take his place. The UFC confirmed the change on July 13, while Ankalaev said in a public message that Rountree had withdrawn because of an injury and wished him a speedy recovery. Details of the injury have not yet been officially released, so it is unknown how long the American fighter could be sidelined. For Guskov, who accepted the bout only 12 days before the event, it will be his first appearance in the main event of a UFC card and by far the biggest opportunity of his career to date.
The change of opponent significantly alters the sporting picture of the event. Rountree was expected to be an aggressive striker who would present Ankalaev with a different type of danger, while Guskov enters with a reputation as a fighter who turns almost every success into a stoppage. According to records used by leading MMA media outlets, the 33-year-old Uzbek has a professional record of 18 wins, three losses and one draw, with all 18 victories coming before the final bell. Such a profile makes him a particularly difficult opponent in a situation in which he has not had a full training camp, because his greatest threat does not necessarily depend on accumulating points over a long period. At the same time, five rounds against the experienced and tactically disciplined Ankalaev will represent a test unlike anything Guskov has faced before.
Rountree's withdrawal opened an unexpected opportunity
Rountree was due to compete in one of his most important fights following his victory over Jamahal Hill in June 2025. At the beginning of June, the UFC officially announced him as Ankalaev's opponent in Abu Dhabi, in a fight between two highly ranked light heavyweights. His withdrawal only a few days before the final phase of preparations forced the organizers to rapidly rearrange the main card. Although the UFC did not describe the medical reason for the cancellation in detail in its initial announcement of the change, Ankalaev clearly stated that it was an injury. Until additional information is released, it is impossible to assess whether an attempt will be made to reschedule the originally planned bout during 2026.
According to a report by MMA Fighting, former champion Jan Błachowicz was also considered as a possible replacement. The Polish veteran announced that he had initially concluded that he could not safely reach the light heavyweight limit of 93 kilograms on short notice, after which the UFC continued negotiations with Guskov. Błachowicz later said that he had nevertheless been prepared to accept the fight under standard conditions, but by then the organization had already finalized an agreement with the Uzbek fighter. That sequence of events further demonstrates how little time was available to save the main event. Under those circumstances, Guskov's willingness, his existing training camp and the fact that he already had a fight booked only one week after Abu Dhabi proved decisive.
Guskov was scheduled to fight Błachowicz in Belgrade
Guskov did not accept the call without any preparation. He had originally been scheduled for a rematch against Błachowicz at the UFC event in Belgrade on August 1, 2026, meaning that he was already in the final stage of his camp. Their first meeting, held at UFC 323 in December 2025, ended in a majority draw. According to the judges' scorecards, one judge gave Błachowicz the advantage, while the remaining two scored the fight a draw. Guskov seriously hurt the former champion in the second round and earned a round that two judges scored 10-8, but Błachowicz avoided defeat with a more controlled performance in the first and third rounds.
The rematch was initially planned for UFC 328 in May, but Błachowicz withdrew after suffering a meniscus injury in training. The UFC then matched the pair again for Belgrade, where the bout was expected to be one of the evening's more important fights. Guskov's move into the Abu Dhabi main event means that the rematch has once again been removed from the schedule. It has not yet been officially confirmed whether Błachowicz will receive a new opponent in Belgrade or whether his return will be postponed to a later date. For Guskov, however, the choice was clear: instead of repeating a fight with one former champion, he received an opportunity to defeat another former champion and become directly involved in the battle at the top of the division.
From a difficult debut to a run of stoppages
Guskov's rise in the UFC did not begin with a victory. In September 2023, he made his debut against Volkan Oezdemir and lost by submission in the first round, exposing weaknesses that he needed to correct quickly if he wanted to survive among the best light heavyweights. He then put together four consecutive stoppage victories, including wins over Zac Pauga, Ryan Spann, Billy Elekana and Nikita Krylov. The triumph over Krylov in Abu Dhabi in July 2025 was particularly important, as Guskov won by technical knockout and confirmed that his power remained dangerous even against established opponents. After that performance, the UFC highlighted that the Uzbek's goal was a title fight, and the bout with Ankalaev now gives him the fastest possible route toward that ambition.
His fighting style is based on direct pressure, powerful punches from both hands and a willingness to engage in exchanges when he senses that his opponent is losing balance. Guskov is not a fighter who must dominate every minute to turn a bout around; one clean strike or a short combination against the fence is enough for him. At the same time, the fight with Błachowicz showed that he can remain dangerous beyond the opening round and that he knows how to recover after a weak start. Five rounds, however, raise new questions about energy management, takedown defense and the ability to maintain pace against an opponent who rarely enters uncontrolled exchanges. The short notice further limits the possibility of developing a completely new tactical plan, so Guskov will probably have to base his performance on patterns already practiced during his preparations for Błachowicz.
Ankalaev seeks a comeback after losing the title
For Ankalaev, the appearance in Abu Dhabi will be his first fight since his defeat to Alex Pereira at UFC 320, held on October 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. Pereira stopped Ankalaev by technical knockout after only 80 seconds of the first round and regained the light heavyweight title. That result ended Ankalaev's long unbeaten run in the UFC, which, according to the organization's official announcement, had lasted seven years. The Russian fighter is now trying to prove that the brief defeat was an isolated moment rather than the beginning of a decline in the rankings. A victory over a dangerous opponent who has accepted the fight without full preparation may be expected on paper, but it carries considerable risk because another failure would seriously distance Ankalaev from another title opportunity.
Ankalaev won the title in March 2025 at UFC 313, when he defeated Pereira by unanimous decision after five rounds. The official judges' scorecards read 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47, and the fight demonstrated Ankalaev's ability to control distance, reduce his opponent's effectiveness and maintain discipline throughout the full 25 minutes. In the rematch, he failed to impose the same rhythm because Pereira immediately pressured him and finished the fight before its tactical structure could even develop. The bout with Guskov will therefore also have a psychological dimension: the former champion must re-establish his composure, but at the same time he cannot allow caution to make him passive. His public message after the opponent change was that he was ready to fight anyone, anywhere and at any time, clearly showing that he did not want to lose his scheduled return date.
A tactical clash between control and finishing power
Ankalaev is known as a fighter who combines technically precise striking from the southpaw stance with a very strong wrestling base. He does not use takedowns equally often in every fight, but the mere threat of changing levels forces opponents to enter exchanges more cautiously. The UFC's statistical record book states that Ankalaev has an 87.5 percent takedown defense rate, placing him among the best in light heavyweight history according to the organization's criteria. In addition, he ranks highly on the list of total strikes landed among light heavyweights, confirming that his style is not based solely on neutralizing opponents. His greatest advantage against Guskov could be his ability to change rhythm, strike from outside immediate range and punish overly aggressive entries.
Guskov, on the other hand, will attempt to close the distance and turn the fight into a series of situations in which one powerful blow changes everything. His 18 stoppage victories illustrate how dangerous he is when he forces an opponent to retreat toward the fence or keeps him at mid-range. Ankalaev, however, is physically strong, well-balanced and rarely gives up position without resistance, so Guskov will have to be more selective than in some of his earlier appearances. Excessive reliance on a single explosive exchange could create an opening for a takedown or counterattack, particularly after the first half of the fight. That is precisely why the main question is not whether Guskov has the power to finish the fight, but whether he can create the opportunity against an opponent who specializes in reducing chaos.
Short notice changes both fighters' preparation
Fights accepted at the last minute are often viewed as an advantage for the replacement fighter because he enters without major expectations, but the situation is more complex. Guskov trained for Błachowicz, an experienced striker with different movement, stance and rhythm from Ankalaev. Although both opponents are former champions and physically powerful light heavyweights, Ankalaev presents a significantly greater wrestling threat and works differently at range. Twelve days are not enough to completely change preparations, so Guskov's team will have to simplify the plan and select several of the most important defensive and offensive priorities. The advantage is that he should be in good physical condition because he had been preparing to compete only one week later.
The change is not simple for Ankalaev either. His camp was tailored to Rountree, an explosive southpaw who relies on Muay Thai, powerful leg kicks and pressure. Guskov also possesses knockout power, but he builds his attacks differently and is more willing to enter rough exchanges. Ankalaev must now adjust his distance assessment, his reactions to punching attacks and the way in which he will use the clinch or takedowns. A more experienced and complete fighter usually handles such a change more easily, but short preparation always increases the possibility of a miscalculation in the opening minutes.
High stakes at the top of the light heavyweight division
Although the UFC has not officially declared the fight a direct title eliminator, the consequences could be considerable. As a former champion and long-standing contender, Ankalaev wants to return immediately to the group of fighters who can demand another opportunity at the belt. A convincing victory over five rounds would show that he has recovered from the quick defeat against Pereira and still belongs at the very top. On the other hand, a Guskov victory would be one of the biggest jumps in the rankings that can be achieved in a single appearance. A fighter who lost his UFC debut less than three years ago would then have victories over Krylov and Ankalaev, along with a draw against Błachowicz.
Guskov is also an attractive replacement for the organization because he brings a clear sporting narrative. He is accepting a short-notice risk, arrives on a run of finishes and already has positive experience competing in Abu Dhabi. Nevertheless, his opportunity does not mean that the path to the top is automatically open. Ankalaev is facing an opponent who has less time for specific preparation but also less to lose, which could encourage a more aggressive approach. That imbalance in expectations often makes replacement fights unpredictable, especially in a division where one strike can erase the difference in experience and ranking.
Abu Dhabi once again receives an important UFC night
The UFC returns to Etihad Arena on July 25 in cooperation with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi. The venue on Yas Island has in recent years become one of the organization's regular international destinations, and events in the capital of the United Arab Emirates frequently bring together fighters from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. The official event announcement states that it is a UFC Fight Night event, while the final fight schedule and start times may change until the week of the event. Despite losing Rountree, the organizers retained a former champion in the main event and found a replacement who carries a genuine stoppage threat. In doing so, they preserved the sporting importance of the evening, even though the original stylistic matchup has been completely altered.
Rountree now faces recovery and a wait for a new UFC decision, with no officially established return date. Błachowicz remains uncertain about competing in Belgrade after losing his planned rematch with Guskov for a second time. The greatest burden, however, rests on the two fighters who will enter the cage on July 25: Ankalaev must confirm his elite status after losing the belt, while Guskov can skip several years of conventional progression in only five rounds. The fight was created out of necessity, but precisely because of the short notice, the differing expectations and the high finishing power, it has generated particular interest. Abu Dhabi will reveal whether Ankalaev can once again impose the control that carried him to the title or whether Guskov will seize the biggest opportunity of his career and completely reshape the light heavyweight rankings.
Sources:
- UFC - official announcement of the Abu Dhabi event and the originally booked Ankalaev-Rountree fight (link)
- MMA Fighting - confirmation of Bogdan Guskov stepping in, the circumstances of Rountree's withdrawal and Jan Błachowicz's statement (link)
- UFC - official results of the Alex Pereira-Magomed Ankalaev fight at UFC 313 (link)
- UFC - official results of the Ankalaev-Pereira rematch at UFC 320 (link)
- UFC - light heavyweight statistical record book, including Ankalaev's takedown defense and total strikes (link)
- UFC - Bogdan Guskov profile and interview following his 2025 victory in Abu Dhabi (link)
- MMA Fighting - report and judging context of the first Guskov-Błachowicz fight at UFC 323 (link)
- UFC - official announcement of the organization's return to Etihad Arena on July 25, 2026 (link)