Khalil Rountree has been forced out of his scheduled bout against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25th. Ankalaev vs. Guskov has been announced as the replacement fight.
Magomed Ankalaev will have a new opponent when UFC Abu Dhabi takes place on July 25th, after Khalil Rountree Jr. was forced out of their scheduled light heavyweight matchup. Roman Guskov steps in as the replacement, giving Ankalaev a fresh test on short notice.
Ankalaev enters the bout as the division's top-ranked contender and the number-five pound-for-pound fighter in the world according to current rankings. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Gorets Fight Club, carries a record of 21-2-1 and has established himself as one of the most dangerous light heavyweights on the roster. At six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach, he combines elite striking accuracy — connecting on 52 percent of his significant strikes — with a credible grappling threat, averaging 0.79 takedowns per fifteen minutes.
Rountree, who was set to represent the seventh-ranked position in the division, will now need to wait for a rescheduled opportunity. The 36-year-old southpaw out of the United States stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and lands 3.88 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more active punchers in the weight class. The nature of his withdrawal has not been specified.
Why it matters
- Ankalaev remains in action ahead of what could be a title shot, keeping his momentum intact despite the late change
- Rountree's exit removes a ranked opponent and pushes his divisional positioning into uncertainty
- Guskov now faces the division's top contender on short notice, a considerable step up in competition
- The 205-pound division continues to churn heading into the second half of 2026, with Ankalaev's performance carrying significant title implications
