2026 UFC Fight Night Preview - Ankalaev vs. Guskov: Can the Hitman stun Big Ank? July 23, 2026 by Marc Jerbs

The UFC returns to Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, for an explosive light heavyweight main event featuring Magomed "Big Ank" Ankalaev against Bogdan "Hitman" Guskov. Originally slated to headline against Khalil Rountree Jr., Ankalaev faced a late change in opponents when a last-minute injury forced Rountree out of the slot. Rising contender Bogdan Guskov eagerly accepted the high-stakes call-up, seizing the biggest opportunity of his career against the top-ranked former champion.

Event Schedule & Start Times

• Date: Saturday, July 25
• Location: Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Preliminary Card Start: 9:00 AM EDT
• Main Card Start: 12:00 PM EDT
• Estimated Main Event Walkout: 2:30 PM EDT (time may fluctuate depending on main card results)

Recent Form & Fight Histories

Magomed Ankalaev has established himself as a dominant, long-standing fixture near the peak of the 205-pound division, carrying a 21–2–1 (1 NC) professional record. His recent run features back-to-back world championship battles against Alex Pereira. Ankalaev initially captured the UFC Light Heavyweight title at UFC 313, putting on a technical masterclass to secure a five-round unanimous decision victory over Pereira. However, in their high-stakes rematch at UFC 320, Ankalaev surrendered the belt after suffering a first-round stoppage loss. Prior to his title series, Ankalaev earned a commanding unanimous decision victory over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 and put an emphatic end to his rivalry with Johnny Walker via a second-round knockout at UFC Fight Night 234.

Bogdan Guskov enters this headlining spot backed by substantial momentum, boasting an 18–3–1 career record and a 100% finishing rate in all of his victories. Most recently at UFC 323, Guskov proved he can hold his own against top-tier opposition by fighting former titleholder Jan Błachowicz to a grueling majority draw, even dropping Błachowicz during the bout. That performance built upon a highlight-reel first-round knockout of Nikita Krylov and a second-round guillotine submission win over Billy Elekana at UFC 311. Guskov first broke out as a serious force in the division when he stopped veteran Ryan Spann via second-round TKO, launching him directly into the light heavyweight top 10 rankings.

Ankalaev vs. Guskov Sports Bet Odds

Magomed "Big Ank" Ankalaev is the favorite to win the match. Here are our latest odds:

• Ankalaev as the favorite has a money line of -600 while Guskov as the underdog has +425.
• Big Ank winning by points has a money line of +325.
• The Hitman winning via KO/TKO or DQ has a money line of +600.

Key Tactical Breakdown

Magomed Ankalaev

• Style: Methodical counter-striker supported by a powerful Dagestani wrestling baseline.
• Keys to Victory: Dictate the distance using precise body and leg kicks, maintain tactical composure during initial exchanges, and utilize heavy top control to drain Guskov's momentum over five rounds.

Bogdan Guskov

• Style: High-potency knockout artist driven by explosive early aggression.
• Keys to Victory: Embrace the underdog mentality by pressing forward early, blitzing Ankalaev with heavy combinations before he can establish range control or initiate wrestling scrambles.

Final Thoughts

This main event sets up a classic clash between elite, calculated technique and dynamic, game-changing power. Ankalaev's world-class defense, tactical maturity, and grappling background make him the clear operational favorite with multiple low-risk avenues to control the fight. Yet, Guskov's short-notice entry gives him free rein to fight without pressure, and his career-long habit of stopping opponents inside the distance means he possesses the absolute equalizer to rewrite the division's narrative in a single moment.

Ankalaev vs. Guskov of the Tape Tale of the Tape

Magomed "Big Ank" Ankalaev #1	VS	Bogdan "Hitman" Guskov #9
21-2-1, 1 NC	Record	18-3-0
Win	Last Fight	Draw
6' 3"	Height	6' 3"
205.0 LBS	Weight	205.0 LBS
75.0"	Reach	76.0"
46.0"	Leg Reach	41.0"
52%	Significant Strikes	51%
56%	Strikes Defense	50%
22%	Takedown Accuracy	0%
87%	Takedown Defense	50%