Magomed Ankalaev stopped Bogdan Guskov by technical knockout in the fifth round at UFC Abu Dhabi, improving his record to 21-2-1-1NC (12-2-1-1NC in the UFC). The victory avenges Ankalaev's previous loss to Alex Pereira and ends Guskov's unbeaten run of four wins and one draw, dropping him to 18-4-1.
Magomed Ankalaev delivered a fifth-round technical knockout of Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25, 2026, pushing his professional record to 21-2-1-1NC and cementing his status as one of the most dangerous men in the light heavyweight division.
Ankalaev, 34, enters the victory as the number-one ranked light heavyweight and fifth in the pound-for-pound standings. The Dagestan native, who trains out of Gorets Fight Club, stands six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach and has built his reputation on a suffocating blend of technical striking and wrestling. He lands 3.65 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, and his 12-2-1-1NC UFC mark reflects a career defined by consistency at the top of the division. The win also carries personal weight, as it avenges a previous defeat to current champion Alex Pereira.
Guskov, known as "Czarevitch," entered the contest ranked tenth at light heavyweight and carried a four-fight unbeaten streak into Abu Dhabi. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan is a high-output striker who lands 4.17 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and his 76-inch reach — slightly longer than Ankalaev's — gave him a physical edge on paper. The loss drops him to 18-4-1 and snaps what had been a promising upward run in the division.
Why it matters
- Ankalaev's win strengthens his case as the mandatory challenger or next contender for the light heavyweight title
- The fifth-round finish demonstrates his finishing ability late in fights, adding to his résumé at the top of the 205-pound division
- Guskov's first professional loss in over two years reshapes his path back toward title contention at light heavyweight
