Ankalaev vs. Rountree and Umar Nurmagomedov vs. David Martinez headline UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25

The UFC has officially announced a light heavyweight headliner between Magomed Ankalaev and Khalil Rountree Jr. for UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25, with Umar Nurmagomedov squaring off against David Martinez in the co-main event.

Ankalaev enters the bout as one of the light heavyweight division's most prominent contenders, though verified ranking data was not available in the current database. Rountree, ranked seventh at 205 pounds, brings an aggressive southpaw style to the matchup. The 36-year-old carries a 15-7 record and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute, with a 76-inch reach — 193 centimeters — giving him genuine range on the feet. His game is almost exclusively striking-based, averaging zero takedowns per 15 minutes.

In the co-main event, second-ranked bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov looks to continue building his title case against David Martinez. The 30-year-old Russian, fighting out of Eagles MMA, holds a 20-1 record and is one of the division's most well-rounded threats — landing 3.86 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 56 percent accuracy while adding 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes. The combination of elite wrestling and precise striking has made him a consistent handful for any opponent.

Martinez, nicknamed Black Spartan and representing Bonebreakers MMA out of Mexico, steps into the biggest fight of his career on the back of a 14-1 record. The 27-year-old orthodox fighter stands five-foot-five with a 67-inch reach and produces an eye-catching 4.82 significant strikes per minute, though his 46 percent accuracy suggests he prioritizes volume alongside output.

Why it matters

• Ankalaev vs. Rountree has direct implications for the light heavyweight title picture
• A Nurmagomedov win over Martinez would strengthen his claim as the next bantamweight title challenger
• Martinez's high-output striking style sets up a contrasting test against Nurmagomedov's wrestling-heavy pressure game