Magomed Ankalaev and Khalil Rountree will meet in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25. Umar Nurmagomedov versus David Martinez has been confirmed as the co-main event.
UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25 will be headlined by a light heavyweight showdown between Magomed Ankalaev and Khalil Rountree Jr., with the promotion also confirming a bantamweight clash between Umar Nurmagomedov and David Martinez as the co-main event.
Ankalaev enters the fight as one of the division's premier contenders, though verified ranking data for him was not included in the confirmed fight details. Rountree, ranked seventh in the light heavyweight division at 36 years old, carries a 15-7-0 record into the contest. The southpaw stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and lands nearly four significant strikes per minute, though his 40 percent striking accuracy reflects his aggressive, volume-based approach. He has essentially no takedown activity, making him a pure stand-and-bang threat.
In the co-main event, Nurmagomedov brings one of the more complete skill sets in the bantamweight division. The 30-year-old Russian, training out of Eagles MMA, holds a 20-1-0 record and sits at number two in the rankings. Standing five-foot-eight with a 69-inch reach, he strikes at 3.86 significant strikes per minute on 56 percent accuracy and adds consistent wrestling pressure with over four takedowns per 15 minutes. His opponent, David Martinez, nicknamed the Black Spartan, is a 27-year-old from Mexico with a 14-1-0 record. Training out of Bonebreakers MMA, Martinez is the more active striker on paper, averaging 4.82 significant strikes per minute, and his orthodox stance mirrors Nurmagomedov's own.
Why it matters
- Rountree's top-ten light heavyweight status means a strong performance could push him deeper into title contention
- Nurmagomedov, ranked second at bantamweight, is positioned to make a case for a title shot with a convincing win
- The Nurmagomedov-Martinez matchup pits a well-rounded grappler against a high-volume striker, offering a clear stylistic contrast
- Both main card bouts carry significant divisional weight heading into the second half of 2026
