ACA middleweight champion Magomedrasul Gasanov has signed with the UFC and will make his debut at the July 25 Abu Dhabi event. The same card features Magomed Ankalaev facing Khalil Rountree.
Magomedrasul Gasanov, the reigning ACA middleweight champion, has signed with the UFC and is set to make his promotional debut at the July 25 event in Abu Dhabi.
Gasanov's signing adds another notable name to a card already headlined by a significant light heavyweight clash. Details on his specific opponent for the Abu Dhabi card were not included in the announcement.
Magomed Ankalaev enters that main event as the division's top-ranked contender and the number-five fighter on the pound-for-pound list. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Gorets Fight Club, carries a 21-2-1 record and brings a well-rounded skill set to the cage. Standing six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach, Ankalaev lands 3.65 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 52 percent, and also averages 0.79 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a genuine two-way threat.
Across the cage, Khalil Rountree Jr. holds the number-seven ranking in the light heavyweight division and brings a 15-7 record into the bout. The 36-year-old southpaw stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and is primarily a striker, averaging 3.88 significant strikes per minute. He does not rely on the grappling game, recording zero takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Ankalaev, ranked first at light heavyweight and fifth pound-for-pound, has title implications riding on his performance against a fellow top-ten opponent.
- Rountree's southpaw stance and volume striking set up an intriguing technical contrast against Ankalaev's orthodox, accuracy-driven approach.
- Gasanov's arrival from ACA adds a proven regional champion to the UFC roster, though his divisional placement and debut opponent remain details to watch.
