Ankalaev Dominates Guskov to earn a TKO stoppage in Round 5 - Abu Dhabi Comeback

Magomed Ankalaev returned to the win column Saturday at Etihad Arena, stopping Bogdan Guskov by TKO at 2:41 of the fifth round. The Dagestani controlled the distance and the mat from the start in this short-notice main event.

What's up, fight fans? Welcome back to Combat Sports Insider.

Magomed Ankalaev needed a statement after that first-round stoppage loss to Alex Pereira last October, and he delivered one the only way he knows how. The former light heavyweight champion stepped into the Octagon in Abu Dhabi against Bogdan Guskov, who accepted the fight on roughly two weeks' notice after Khalil Rountree Jr. pulled out hurt. From the opening exchanges Ankalaev dictated the range with that long jab and measured kicks, forcing Guskov into a hesitant, low-output game that never found a rhythm. The crowd got restless early because the pace stayed measured, yet the numbers never lied. Ankalaev out-landed his opponent by a wide margin and banked minutes of control time while Guskov struggled to close distance or land clean head shots.

Rounds three and four looked more of the same, with Ankalaev content to pick his spots on the feet before mixing in takedowns that kept Guskov pinned and defending. In the championship round the Dagestani finally poured it on, securing another trip to the mat and unloading ground strikes until the referee had seen enough at the 2:41 mark. That finish pushed Ankalaev to 22-2-1 and snapped Guskov's recent momentum, dropping him to 18-4-1. After the bout Ankalaev noted through a translator that his opponent simply would not engage in the striking exchanges, saying he kept trying to find him while Guskov kept moving away. The performance was pure Ankalaev, patient, technical, and ultimately overwhelming once the fight hit the later stages.

This result keeps the Russian near the top of a stacked 205-pound picture and sets up the next conversation about where he fits against the current contenders. Guskov showed heart stepping up on short notice, but the gap in experience and output was clear from the first bell. Ankalaev is back in the win column and looking every bit the elite technician who once held the belt.

Thanks for reading. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on YouTube for more insider updates!