Magomed Ankalaev vs Bogdan Guskov Predictions & Picks
PLEASE NOTE: Bogdan Guskov is replacing Khalil Rountree Jr in the main event.
Magomed Ankalaev is tipped to win this light-heavyweight showdown by knockout.
The late change in opponent is not ideal, but Bogdan Guskov's takedown defense is poor, meaning Ankalaev can get him down to the mat, break him down and finish him.
- 6 of Magomed Ankalaev’s 12 UFC wins have been by KO/TKO
- Magomed Ankalaev has lost just 1 of his previous 15 fights
- 2 of Bogan Guskov's 3 career defeats have been by stoppage
Magomed Ankalaev Form
Magomed Ankalaev is a former UFC light-heavyweight champion and current number one contender with a professional record of 20-2-1 with 1 No Contest.
Ankalaev signed with the UFC in 2018 and got off to a losing start as he was tapped out in the final second by Paul Craig in his debut.
He quickly put that behind him with a 189-second knockout of Marcin Prachnio later that year, and in 2019 he followed up a points success over Klidson Abreu with a third-round stoppage of Dalcha Lungiambula.
The 34-year-old Russian then won back-to-back meetings with Ion Cutelaba in 2020 – ensuring the controversy surrounding his 38-second knockout win was ended by another first-round victory in the rematch.
Ankalaev continued his climb up the 205lb ladder in 2021 as he out-pointed Nikita Krylov and Volkan Oezdemir, and he then made it nine-in-a-row the following year as he beat Thiago Santos and points before stopping Anthony Smith in the second round.
That earned him a fight for the light-heavyweight title in December 2022, but his night ended in disappointment as the judges ruled his fight with Jan Blachowicz a split decision draw.
The Russian’s momentum stalled further as he then went to a No Contest with Johnny Walker in October 2023 – the ruling coming after an illegal knee left the Brazilian unable to continue.
Ankalaev took the rematch though, knocking out Walker in the second, and then beat Aleksandar Rakic on points to secure another shot at the light-heavyweight crown.
This time he took his big chance by out-pointing Alex Pereira in March 2025, but when the two men met again in October of last year he surrendered the title back to the Brazilian, losing via first-round knockout.
Bogdan Guskov Form
Bogdan Guskov is the number nine ranked light-heavyweight contender with a career record of 18-3-1 (15 KOs, 3 Subs).
Guskov debuted in the UFC in September 2023, but got off to a rough start as he was submitted in the first round by Volkan Oezdemir.
He rebounded quickly, notching his first victory inside the Octagon when he knocked out Zac Pauga in the first round the following February.
The 33-year-old, from Uzbekistan, backed that up with a second-round knockout of Ryan Spann, but it would be just short of a year before he fought again.
Guskov made up for lost time though, as he submitted Billy Elekana in the second round, and he followed that up with a first-round knockout of Nikita Krylov.
He failed to make it five wins in a row though, as his fight with former champion Jan Blachowicz went to a majority draw last December.