ACA middleweight champion Magomedrasul Gasanov has signed with the UFC and will make his promotional debut at the Abu Dhabi event on July 25th. The same card will feature Magomed Ankalaev facing Khalil Rountree.
Magomedrasul Gasanov, the reigning ACA middleweight champion, has signed with the UFC and is slated to make his promotional debut on the Abu Dhabi card scheduled for July 25th.
Gasanov arrives in the UFC off the back of his ACA title reign, bringing his middleweight credentials to the world's top MMA organization. No opponent has been announced for his debut, and further details surrounding his first octagon assignment remain forthcoming.
The July 25th event in Abu Dhabi will also serve as the stage for a significant light heavyweight showdown between Magomed Ankalaev and Khalil Rountree Jr. Ankalaev, ranked first in the light heavyweight division and fifth pound-for-pound, carries a 21-2-1 record into the bout. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Gorets Fight Club, stands six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach and brings a well-rounded game, landing 3.65 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 52 percent accuracy while also averaging 0.79 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Rountree Jr., ranked seventh in the division at 36 years old, holds a 15-7-0 record and brings heavy-handed southpaw striking to the matchup. The six-foot-one, 193-centimeter fighter carries a 76-inch reach and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more prolific volume strikers in the weight class.
Why it matters
- Gasanov's UFC signing adds a decorated ACA champion to an already deep middleweight roster
- Ankalaev vs. Rountree has direct light heavyweight title implications, with the top-ranked Ankalaev looking to press his championship case
- Rountree's southpaw power against Ankalaev's accuracy and wrestling creates a compelling stylistic contrast
