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

Two compelling matchups will anchor UFC Abu Dhabi when the promotion returns to the UAE capital on July 25, with Magomed Ankalaev taking on Khalil Rountree Jr. in the main event and Umar Nurmagomedov squaring off against David Martinez in the co-main.

Ankalaev enters the light heavyweight headliner as one of the division's premier names, though verified ranking data for him was not available in the current dataset. His opponent, Rountree Jr., is ranked seventh at 185 pounds and brings a punishing southpaw style to the cage. The 36-year-old lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute and carries a 76-inch reach — 193 centimeters — that gives him significant range. His record stands at 15 wins and 7 losses, and he attempts almost no takedowns, making him a pure striker on fight night.

Nurmagomedov versus Martinez shapes up as one of the more technically intriguing co-main events of the year. The Russian, ranked second in the bantamweight division, carries a 20-1-0 record into the fight at just 30 years of age. Fighting out of Eagles MMA, the orthodox grappler averages an impressive 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes and strikes with 56 percent accuracy — a standout figure for the division. Martinez, nicknamed "Black Spartan," represents Mexico and trains with Bonebreakers MMA. At 27, the unranked contender owns a 14-1-0 record and leads all four fighters in striking output at 4.82 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 46 percent.

Why it matters

• Ankalaev and Rountree represent a critical crossroads bout in a light heavyweight division with an unsettled title picture.
• A Nurmagomedov win could push the second-ranked bantamweight closer to a title shot; Martinez represents a steep step-up test.
• Rountree's pure striking versus Nurmagomedov's elite grappling rate makes the co-main a compelling styles clash between fighters on opposite ends of the skill-set spectrum.