Former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev returned to the win column with an emphatic fifth-round TKO victory over Bogdan Guskov in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Sunday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Ankalaev delivered a disciplined and calculated performance against the ninth-ranked Guskov, controlling the fight with his technical striking and distance management through the opening four rounds. As Guskov began to fade, Ankalaev increased the pressure in the fifth, overwhelming his opponent with strikes before the referee stepped in at 2:41 of the final round.
The victory keeps Ankalaev firmly in the light heavyweight title picture after bouncing back with a dominant performance.
In the co-main event, rising flyweight contender Ramazan Temirov made a statement by knocking out former title challenger Steve Erceg in the opening round. Temirov pressed the action from the opening bell, repeatedly backing Erceg up with powerful right hands before landing a crushing right that ended the contest at 4:21 of Round 1.
Elsewhere on the main card, Magomed Zaynukov earned a unanimous decision over Damian Rzepecki, Rizvan Kuniev stopped Tyrell Fortune via third-round TKO in the Fight of the Night, and Abubakar Vagaev edged Saygid Izagakhmaev by unanimous decision.
The preliminary card featured several highlight-reel finishes. Valter Walker submitted Thomas Petersen with a rare calf slicer in the opening round, Muhammad Saidov stopped Dustin Jacoby via second-round TKO, Sam Patterson earned a TKO victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio, Axel Sola submitted Ismael Bonfim with a D'Arce choke, Magomed Tuchalov and Nurullo Aliev picked up decision wins, while Abdul Hussein finished Cody Gibson with an arm-triangle choke.
Rizvan Kuniev and Tyrell Fortune received Fight of the Night honors. Performance of the Night bonuses went to Ramazan Temirov and Valter Walker, while finish bonuses were awarded to Abdul Hussein, Axel Sola, Sam Patterson, Muhammad Saidov and Magomed Ankalaev.
Results
Main Event
- Magomed Ankalaev def. Bogdan Guskov via TKO (strikes) – Round 5, 2:41
Co-Main Event
- Ramazan Temirov def. Steve Erceg via KO (right hand) – Round 1, 4:21
Main Card
- Magomed Zaynukov def. Damian Rzepecki via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Rizvan Kuniev def. Tyrell Fortune via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 1:12
- Abubakar Vagaev def. Saygid Izagakhmaev via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Preliminary Card
- Valter Walker def. Thomas Petersen via submission (calf slicer) – Round 1, 1:32
- Muhammad Saidov def. Dustin Jacoby via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:49
- Sam Patterson def. Santiago Ponzinibbio via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 3:06
- Axel Sola def. Ismael Bonfim via submission (D'Arce choke) – Round 1, 4:44
- Magomed Tuchalov def. Brendson Ribeiro via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Nurullo Aliev def. Mike Davis via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Abdul Hussein def. Cody Gibson via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 3, 3:07
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