ACA middleweight champion Magomedrasul Gasanov has signed with the UFC and will compete on the July 25 Abu Dhabi card. Ankalaev will face Khalil Rountree on the same event.
ACA middleweight champion Magomedrasul Gasanov has signed with the UFC and is set to make his promotional debut on the July 25 card in Abu Dhabi.
Gasanov arrives as one of the most decorated free agents from the Russian regional circuit, having captured the ACA middleweight title before earning his UFC contract. Specific record and physical data for Gasanov were not available in the verified database at time of publication.
The Abu Dhabi event also features a light heavyweight bout between Magomed Ankalaev and Khalil Rountree Jr. Rountree, ranked seventh in the light heavyweight division, brings a 15-7-0 record into the fight at age 36. The southpaw stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more volume-oriented strikers in the division. His grappling output is minimal, averaging zero takedowns per 15 minutes, which underlines his identity as a stand-and-bang fighter.
Why it matters
- Gasanov's signing adds another ACA champion to the UFC roster, continuing the promotion's pipeline of Russian talent into the world's top MMA organization.
- The Ankalaev versus Rountree matchup carries significant divisional weight at light heavyweight, with a top-ten ranked contender on the line.
- Rountree's pure striking style against Ankalaev sets up a compelling stylistic test for both men heading into the Abu Dhabi card.
