TLDR
- Magomed Ankalaev finished Bogdan Guskov in the fifth round at UFC Abu Dhabi but faced criticism for a slow-paced fight
- Ankalaev says the boring pace was due to Guskov staying on the back foot and avoiding engagement
- He responded to Paulo Costa’s callout, questioning whether Costa would actually fight aggressively
- Ankalaev is working his way back to a title shot after losing the belt to Alex Pereira
- Current champion Carlos Ulberg is recovering from a torn ACL and aims to return in early 2027
Sources: bjpenn.com
Magomed Ankalaev is pushing back against criticism of his UFC Abu Dhabi main event performance this past Saturday. The light heavyweight contender finished Bogdan Guskov in the fifth round but faced backlash for what many fans called a lackluster fight.
Ankalaev spoke with Red Corner MMA about the criticism and refused to accept blame for the fight’s slow pace. “Whether the fight was boring or not wasn’t up to me,” Ankalaev said.
The Russian fighter explained that he tried to engage but had to adjust his strategy based on Guskov’s approach. “I was pressing forward. I wanted to fight, but my opponent stayed on the back foot and kept moving away,” he said.
Ankalaev Explains Fifth-Round Finish
Guskov accepted the fight on short notice after Khalil Rountree withdrew from the matchup. The short-notice replacement has drawn criticism for not taking more risks during his opportunity to fight in a main event slot.
Ankalaev said he changed tactics when it became clear Guskov would not engage standing. “So I decided to wrestle and finish him on the ground,” he explained.
Magomed Ankalaev responds to criticism that his main event fight with Bogdan Guskov wasn't entertaining, saying he wanted to engage but had to adjust after Guskov stayed on the back foot. He also responds to Paulo Costa’s comments about bringing excitement back to the division,… pic.twitter.com/M3HpHZIaRq
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 26, 2026
The finish came in the fifth round after nearly 20 minutes of careful striking and grappling exchanges. Both fighters have received criticism for the cautious approach throughout most of the bout.
Ankalaev recently lost the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship in a rematch against Alex Pereira. He is now working his way back toward another title shot.
Paulo Costa Callout and Title Picture
Ankalaev also addressed recent comments from Paulo Costa, who moved up to light heavyweight and has been calling for high-profile fights. “Borrachinha” has been vocal about wanting to bring excitement back to the 205-pound division.
“Costa didn’t perform well in his division, then moved up, won one fight, and got loud,” Ankalaev said. He questioned whether Costa would actually engage in an exciting fight.
“If he’s ready to come forward, we’ll be waiting for him,” Ankalaev continued. “But if he’s going to run and shy away, I see no point in fighting him.”
Daniel Cormier recently stated that changes in the light heavyweight division could put Ankalaev back in title contention quickly. Other analysts believe he should take at least one more fight before challenging for the belt again.
The current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion is Carlos Ulberg, who is recovering from a torn ACL injury. Ulberg’s goal is to return to competition in early 2027.
The UFC may book an interim title fight before the end of 2026 if Ulberg’s recovery takes longer than expected. No timeline has been announced for Ankalaev’s next fight or potential matchups in the division.
