Bogdan Guskov replaces Khalil Rountree vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Abu Dhabi

Bogdan Guskov will step in to face Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25, after Khalil Rountree Jr. was forced off the card. The late change reshuffles one of the light heavyweight division's most compelling matchups heading into the summer.

Ankalaev enters as the clear frontrunner in the division. The 34-year-old Russian, training out of Gorets Fight Club, carries a 21-2-1 record and holds the number-one ranking at light heavyweight, with a top-five spot on the pound-for-pound list. Standing six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach, he is an accurate striker who connects at 52 percent and also mixes in takedowns at a rate of 0.79 per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded threat profile.

Guskov, nicknamed Czarevitch, steps in on relatively short notice but is no stranger to high-level competition. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan holds an 18-3-1 record and sits at number 10 in the division. At six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach, he matches Ankalaev physically. His output stands out — 4.17 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate — and he averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, adding a grappling dimension that could complicate Ankalaev's game plan.

Rountree, a 36-year-old southpaw ranked seventh at light heavyweight, was 15-7-0 heading into what would have been a significant step up against the division's top-ranked contender. The reason for his withdrawal has not been reported.

Why it matters

• Ankalaev is one win away from forcing his way into title contention or a rematch conversation at 205 pounds, making every main-event appearance carry serious divisional weight.
• Guskov's high striking volume and submission threat create a genuinely different stylistic test than Rountree's power-based southpaw approach.
• A Guskov upset would rocket the tenth-ranked Uzbek fighter into the upper tier of the light heavyweight rankings overnight.