Magomed Ankalaev secures stoppage win at UFC Abu Dhabi main event

MMA Fighting reacts to UFC Abu Dhabi

Russia's Magomed Ankalaev reacts after winning his men's light heavyweight fight against Uzbekistan's Bogdan Guskov in the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on July 25, 2026. (Photo by Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Magomed Ankalaev got back in the win column in his first fight since losing the UFC light heavyweight title, but it wasn’t the most memorable performance in recent memory in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi. Following the win, should Ankalaev get another crack at the title when Carlos Ulberg is ready to return, or does Ankalaev have more work to do? Following the UFC’s most recent Fight Night event, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Jed Meshew react to the card, Ankalaev’s victory in the lackluster main event against Bogdan Guskov, and where he goes in a weird light heavyweight division. Additionally, they react to Ramazan Temirov’s brutal knockout victory against Steve Erceg in the flyweight co-main event, Magomed Zaynukov’s successful UFC debut and his ceiling at lightweight, and much more. Watch the UFC Abu Dhabi post-fight show above, or an audio-only version of the show can also be streamed below and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your pods.