Overview
- Magomed Ankalaev won the Abu Dhabi main event by outstriking Bogdan Guskov and finishing him on the ground in the fifth round, preserving his spot near the top of the light‑heavyweight contenders.
- Former bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw said on the JAXXON Podcast that Ankalaev is 'boring' and a 'point fighter' who picks single shots rather than applying sustained pressure.
- Dillashaw pointed to Alex Pereira’s rematch strategy of coming forward and forcing Ankalaev backward as the tactical blueprint for beating him, and he judged Guskov’s decision to fight at distance as a flawed game plan.
- Fans and analysts echoed concerns about low output and fan appeal after the fight, even as Ankalaev defended the result by blaming his opponent’s style and approach.
- With champion Carlos Ulberg sidelined by a long knee recovery, the debate over Ankalaev’s style raises pressure on UFC matchmakers to book him against high-profile opponents or consider interim options to keep the division active.