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Ankalaev Stops Short‑Notice Guskov With Fifth‑Round TKO in Abu Dhabi

The victory moves Ankalaev back toward light‑heavyweight contention while the division’s title picture remains unsettled by the champion’s injury.

Overview

  • Magomed Ankalaev won by TKO at 2:41 of the fifth round after using late takedowns and ground‑and‑pound to force referee Marc Goddard to stop the bout.
  • The main event drew heavy criticism for low output and a cautious pace, but Ankalaev shifted to wrestling in Round 4 to create the decisive damage.
  • Bogdan Guskov took the fight on roughly 12 days’ notice after Khalil Rountree Jr. withdrew and was removed from a scheduled rematch in Belgrade; Guskov posted on social media that “we’ll meet again.”
  • The undercard produced brighter moments with Magomed Zaynukov debuting with a 30‑27 unanimous decision and Ramazan Temirov scoring a first‑round knockout that earned performance bonuses.
  • With champion Carlos Ulberg sidelined by a knee injury, Ankalaev’s win deepens debate over next steps at 205 pounds and raises the prospect of an interim title or rapid top‑contender matchups to fill the vacancy.