Ankalaev's Decisive UFC Win.
Magomed Ankalaev Secures 5th-Round Knockout, Ends Bogdan Guskov's Unbeaten Streak at UFC Abu Dhabi.
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Magomed Ankalaev stopped Bogdan Guskov in the fifth round to win the UFC Fight Night 282 main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The finish was a TKO, and it ended Guskov's five-fight winning streak in the UFC, according to MMA Fighting.
Ankalaev, who entered as the headliner, improved to 21-2-1 overall and 12-2-1 in the UFC. He is now unbeaten in 15 of his last 16 fights. Guskov stepped in on short notice after the original main event fell through, per MMA Junkie.
A Slow Fight Saved by a Late Finish
The fight was largely uneventful for four rounds. MMA Mania called it a "boring main event" before Ankalaev turned things around. Neither fighter did much damage early. The crowd in Abu Dhabi had little to cheer about through most of the night.
Then, in the fifth round, Ankalaev took Guskov down and finished the fight with ground-and-pound strikes. The stoppage came late, but it gave the card a clean ending. MMA Fighting noted that Ankalaev mixed striking and grappling throughout before the finish came.
Guskov Stepped In on Short Notice
Guskov was not the original opponent. He took the fight on short notice after a scheduling change. He was set to face Jan Blachowicz in a rematch at UFC Belgrade next Saturday before this fight was arranged, according to MMA Fighting.
Guskov had won five straight fights in the UFC before Saturday. That run ended with the TKO loss. His status for the Belgrade rematch with Blachowicz is now unclear after taking a finish on short notice.
Ankalaev Strengthens His Light Heavyweight Case
Ankalaev has now gone 15-0-1 in his last 16 fights. That record puts him among the best light heavyweights in the world. He has long been seen as a title contender. Saturday's win keeps him in the conversation for a shot at the 205-pound belt, per Yahoo Sports.
MMA Junkie reported that Ankalaev controlled the fight with both his striking and grappling. He scored 10-9 on the scorecards. The win was not flashy, but it was dominant. Few light heavyweights can match his record over the past several years.
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