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The former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder took on Bogdan Guskov in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi. Guskov had stepped up on two weeks’ notice after Ankalaev’s original opponent, Khalil Rountree, pulled out due to an injury. Ankalaev dominated Guskov in a slow-paced bout before finishing him in the final round with ground-and-pound.
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Now back in the win column, the Russian has addressed his next bout.
Magomed Ankalaev says Paulo Costa fight depends on pressure and forward movement
Ankalaev defended his recent performance against critics who found it lackluster. He says that Guskov was backing up even though he kept pressing forward.
“It wasn’t up to me whether the fight would be boring or not,” Ankalaev told Red Corner MMA. “I was pressing forward, I wanted to fight. But my opponent started working on the back foot and constantly running from me. So, then I decided to start wrestling and finish him on the ground.”
Costa was among those who found the fight boring, vowing to save the light heavyweight division from monotony.
“By the power of the Almighty, I shall save this weight class from monotony and boredom,” Costa wrote on X.
Costa (16-4) is coming off wins over Roman Kopylov and the previously undefeated Azamat Murzakanov, labeling himself a “Russian killer” as he sets his sights on Ankalaev.
“One Russian killer against tedious fights,” he wrote in a follow-up post.
Ankalaev (21-2) is ready to fight Costa if the former middleweight title contender comes forward and doesn’t constantly remain on the back foot as Guskov did.
“Costa didn’t perform in his division, then moved up, won a single fight, and got loud,” Ankalaev said. “If he’s ready to press forward, we’ll be waiting for him. But if he’s going to run and shy away, I see no point in fighting him.”
By the power of the Almighty, I shall save this weighclass from monotony and boredom.
— Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) July 25, 2026
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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