UFC returns to Abu Dhabi as Magomed Ankalaev faces Bogdan Guskov in a featured light heavyweight fight

The UFC is back in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, July 25, 2026, staging UFC Abu Dhabi from inside Etihad Arena on Fight Island in the United Arab Emirates. The centerpiece of the night’s televised card is a light heavyweight fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Bogdan Guskov, a matchup that places two high-level strikers and grapplers in a division where momentum can quickly shape title-picture conversations.

Ankalaev vs. Guskov anchors a card built around weight-class urgency. In the UFC’s light heavyweight division, fights like this routinely serve as separation points for fighters trying to establish themselves as consistent threats, especially when the promotion is moving through a period of international events that bring fresh matchups before the next championship cycle.

In the co-main event, Steve Erceg is scheduled to face Ramazan Temirov in a flyweight bout. Flyweight matchups carry their own kind of stakes in the UFC, where pace, striking accuracy, and the ability to control transitions often decide rounds and, in turn, who earns consideration for future matchmaking at the top of the division.

The card will stream on Paramount+, according to the event preview. That streaming platform detail matters for fans tracking how UFC is distributing access for international events, particularly when start times and undercard visibility vary by region.

What remains to be confirmed on the record from the preview is the full structure of the remainder of the fight card. UFC events typically include multiple bouts across several divisions, and the undercard can influence how the promotion balances its roster, but those specifics are not fully detailed in the available information here.

For viewers tuning in, the most important practical question is how the matchup styles play out under UFC rules: whether Ankalaev and Guskov can impose their preferred rhythm early, and whether Erceg and Temirov keep their opponents locked in striking range or force a grappling exchange. On paper, fights that feature both size and skill diversity often become “trajectory fights,” with winners positioning themselves for higher-profile opportunities faster than others in the division.

The UFC Abu Dhabi event is set for Saturday, and the next step for fans is to look for the officially released full bout order, including exact bout times and all scheduled matchups, to understand how the night unfolds from first prelim to the main card.