UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov

The event will mark the promotion's 23rd visit to Abu Dhabi and first since UFC 321 in October 2025.^[1]

A light heavyweight bout between former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev and former title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. was scheduled to headline the event.^[2] However, less than two weeks before the event, Rountree withdrew due to an injury and was replaced by Bogdan Guskov, who was originally scheduled to compete one week later at UFC Fight Night: Medić vs. Rodriguez.^[3] Former KSW and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jan Błachowicz, who was the opponent for Guskov the following week, was originally asked to step in on short notice but said he was not able to make the weight limit one week prior to his scheduled bout.^[3]

A heavyweight bout between Rizvan Kuniev and Tyrell Fortune is scheduled for the event.^[4] The bout was originally scheduled to take place one month earlier at UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Torres but was moved to this card for undisclosed reasons.^[5]

A heavyweight bout between Louie Sutherland and Gökhan Saricam was scheduled for the event.^[6] However, it was reported that Sutherland was instead scheduled to face another oppponent at UFC Fight Night: Gamrot vs. Salkilld two weeks later.^[7]

Promotional newcomers Magomedrasul Gasanov and Abubakar Vagaev were scheduled to meet in a middleweight bout at this event.^[8] However, Gasanov pulled out for unknown reasons and was replaced by Saygid Izagakhmaev, with the matchup subsequently being shifted to a welterweight contest.^[9]

A bantamweight bout between former UFC Bantamweight Championship challenger Umar Nurmagomedov and David Martínez was scheduled for the event.^[10] However, Martínez withdrew from the bout due to an injury, so the bout was cancelled.^[11]

A light heavyweight bout between Dustin Jacoby and former LFA Light Heavyweight Champion Uran Satybaldiev was scheduled for the event.^[12] However, Satybaldiev withdrew for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by undefeated promotional newcomer Muhammad Said.^[13]

A bantamweight bout between former LFA Bantamweight Champion Muin Gafurov and promotional newcomer Abdul Hussein was scheduled for the event.^[14] However, Gafurov withdrew due to a leg injury and was replaced by Cody Gibson.^[15][16]

^[17]

• Welterweight bout: Saygid Izagakhmaev vs. Abubakar Vagaev^[9]
• Bantamweight bout: Abdul Hussein vs. Cody Gibson^[16]
• Light Heavyweight bout: Dustin Jacoby vs. Muhammad Said^[13]

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