Magomed Ankalaev says he wants Paulo Costa after Costa passed on short-notice UFC Abu Dhabi bout

Magomed Ankalaev is looking toward a fresh opponent after UFC Fight Night 282 in Abu Dhabi shifted in late stages of matchmaking. Ankalaev was slated to headline the July 25 show at Etihad Arena against Khalil Rountree, but Rountree withdrew due to injury. With the main event disrupted close to fight week, the promotion moved quickly to install Bogdan Guskov as the replacement, turning the headliner into Ankalaev vs. Guskov.

The change also surfaced a second layer of behind-the-scenes negotiation, according to what Ankalaev and other fighters described publicly. Yahoo Sports reported that the UFC contacted multiple potential replacements, and that Jan Blachowicz and Paulo Costa indicated they were among the options. In the end, the matchup was set with Guskov, not one of those fighters.

Ankalaev’s interest, per the report, is now pointed at Paulo Costa. The UFC veteran stated he is eyeing a bout with Costa, while the Brazilian reportedly declined the chance to fight Ankalaev on short notice. The back-and-forth underscores a common challenge in elite MMA scheduling: the sport depends on timing, and even fighters who are capable of taking a fight may decline if the turnaround is too tight for preparation.

For Ankalaev, the matchup keeps him on a high-visibility lane in the light heavyweight division. The report described Ankalaev’s professional record as 21-2-1 overall and 12-2-1 in UFC competition at the time of publication. He has built his reputation in the UFC through durability and a steady accumulation of marquee-match opportunities, and the promotion’s willingness to rework the main event suggests he remains central to its Abu Dhabi plans.

Costa, meanwhile, adds a familiar counterpoint to the headline-making process. The same report noted that Costa was not prepared to accept the fight at the last minute. That decision effectively pushed the UFC toward someone who could step in and make weight and training adjustments quickly enough to keep the event intact.

Guskov’s role in this particular reshuffle is straightforward. The report identified him as the replacement opponent, describing a UFC record of 4-1-1 and an overall record of 18-3-1. In practical terms, his selection reflects how the promotion weighs readiness and availability when an injury removes a planned headliner from the card.

Looking ahead, the clear storyline is whether the UFC can turn Ankalaev’s interest into an actual booking with Costa. If Costa’s stance was primarily about short notice rather than stylistic disinterest, the door remains open for a future matchup once the calendar provides a more realistic training timeline. In the meantime, UFC Fight Night 282’s headliner now takes on renewed meaning as Ankalaev works toward his next step with Guskov in Abu Dhabi.

The immediate watch item for fans is how the revised headliner affects the tone of the rest of the card, especially in terms of preparation cycles and public-facing buildup. When a main event changes this late, matchmaking ripple effects are rarely visible on paper but often show up in how fighters talk about training readiness and how quickly strategies can be adjusted. For Ankalaev, the priority is straightforward: treat Guskov as the opponent in front of him, then press for the bigger fight with Costa if the opportunity becomes available.