Magomed Ankalaev risks embarrassment by dismissing UFC Abu Dhabi essential event as a ‘tuneup’ fight

Magomed Ankalaev will hope his fight week comments don’t come back to haunt him.

The previous UFC light heavyweight champion can be returning for the primary time since being brutally knocked out by Alex Pereira nine months ago.

‘Poatan’ exacted his revenge just seven months after Ankalaev won the title at UFC 313 by handing the Brazilian his one and only loss at 205 kilos.

The Dagestani fighter is trying to get back on the horse in Saturday’s UFC Abu Dhabi essential event, and he sounds incredibly confident about doing so.

Will Magomed Ankalaev ever hold UFC gold again? 👑

The UFC Abu Dhabi headliner was light heavyweight champion for just 7 months 😳

Magomed Ankalaev downplays Bogdan Guskov’s threat in late-notice UFC Abu Dhabi matchup

Ankalaev was initially set to face one other victim of Pereira’s power in ex-title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. But after ‘The War Horse’ withdrew because of an injury, Bogdan Guskov stepped in to fight Ankalaev on lower than 10 days’ notice.

The Hungarian has won 4 of his last five fights. His most up-to-date outing was a majority draw against former champion Jan Blachowicz.

The No. 10-ranked contender memorably put Nikita Krylov out cold 12 months ago, but Ankalaev has zero concerns about falling to the identical fate.

He went up to now as to call the essential event against Guskov a “tuneup” during a recent interview with MMA Junkie.

“That is only a fight to be back,” Ankalaev said.

“It’s like a tuneup, if you ought to call it. I get it with Bogdan, so to talk, because he’s No. (9), so for him to get this kind of opportunity, it’s definitely life-changing. It’s an enormous deal.

“He’s gonna attempt to take my number and this and that, nevertheless it’s gonna be really tough for him to leap out similar to that,” he added.

Ankalaev will enter the cage at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena because the sizable favorite.

Nevertheless it is protected to say that 2026 has already seen way more shocking upsets than a victory for Guskov could be on July 25.