UFC Abu Dhabi: Ankalaev vs. short-notice replacement Guskov headlines July 25 card

The UFC's event this weekend lost half of its main event when an injury forced Khalil Rountree Jr. to withdraw. Former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev now faces Bogdan Guskov, looking to move back toward a title shot. Read more from Brian Mazique.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Event: UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov (UFC Fight Night 282)
• Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
• Location: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Start Times: Prelims 9 a.m. ET / Main card 12 p.m. ET
• How to Watch (U.S.): Paramount+
• Main Event: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)
• Highest Hype Score on the Card: Ankalaev vs. Guskov (80)

Why Does Ankalaev vs. Guskov Headline UFC Abu Dhabi?

Ankalaev is not fighting for a belt in Abu Dhabi, but a clean win would drop him back into a wide-open light heavyweight race where even former champions are on the move. He lost the title to Alex Pereira last October via first-round stoppage, ending a 14-fight unbeaten run.

Guskov took the fight on short notice, carries a five-fight unbeaten streak with a 100 percent finish rate, and becomes the first fighter from Uzbekistan to headline a UFC card. His countryman Ramazan Temirov sits in the co-main event, making Saturday a landmark night for the double-landlocked nation.

What Makes the Rest of the Abu Dhabi Card Special?

The co-main event is a highlight. Temirov is one of the scariest flyweights in the world and takes on Steve Erceg in a bout that could win Fight of the Night. A ranked heavyweight fight is also on tap: No. 8 Rizvan Kuniev faces American Tyrell Fortune, ranked No. 9.

Submission specialist Valter Walker takes on Thomas Petersen. If Walker collects another leg lock submission—or any kind of win—he could be close to a title shot.

Walker vs. Petersen lands on the prelims, but the rest of that group anchors a UFC Abu Dhabi main card built on contenders rather than big names.

UFC Abu Dhabi Full Card and Hype Scores

Every bout on the card, graded on the Hype Meter and scored out of 100. Bout order is subject to late changes.

Main Card (12 p.m. ET)

• Magomed Ankalaev vs. Bogdan Guskov (LHW) — Hype Score: 80
• Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov (FLW) — Hype Score: 62
• Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune (HW) — Hype Score: 41
• Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman (WW) — Hype Score: 27
• Magomed Zaynukov vs. Damian Rzepecki (LW) — Hype Score: 22
• Abubakar Vagaev vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev (WW) — Hype Score: 20

Prelims (9 a.m. ET)

• Valter Walker vs. Thomas Petersen (HW) — Hype Score: 60
• Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Sam Patterson (WW) — Hype Score: 50
• Ismael Bonfim vs. Axel Sola (LW) — Hype Score: 30
• Dustin Jacoby vs. Muhammad Said (LHW) — Hype Score: 26
• Nurullo Aliev vs. Mike Davis (LW) — Hype Score: 24
• Abdul Hussein vs. Cody Gibson (BW) — Hype Score: 23
• Brendson Ribeiro vs. Magomed Tuchalov (LHW) — Hype Score: 21

How Does the Entire UFC Abu Dhabi Card Rate?

Run through the Hype Meter, UFC Abu Dhabi lands at an overall Hype Score of 60 out of 100, placing it in Solid territory. The score is weighted as follows:

• Main event: 40 percent
• Co-main event: 20 percent
• Rest of main card: 25 percent
• Best prelim: 15 percent

The card leans almost entirely on its top three fights: Ankalaev-Guskov (80), the Erceg-Temirov co-main (62), and Walker's prelim (60)—which should probably be on the main card. A prospect-heavy middle keeps it from climbing into Strong Card range. If you are setting an early alarm for the U.S. start time, those three fights are the reason.

What Is the Hype Meter?

The Hype Meter is a formula created to gauge the overall fan appeal for each UFC event. It takes into consideration:

• Fighter notoriety
• Accomplishment
• Stakes
• Developing storylines

Each fight is scored from one to 10 on those four criteria.