Magomed Ankalaev, the recently dethroned champ, proved beyond a doubt that he is simply too much for most light heavyweights to handle, pummeling Bogdan Guskov for a TKO stoppage at 2 minutes, 41 seconds of Round 5 at UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Guskov, who stepped into the main event against Ankalaev (21-2-1) with a 18-4-1 record, had a golden opportunity to jump the line to a title shot, but from the opening bell, it never looked like he had even the slightest chance against the Dagestani.
The first few rounds were a clinic in methodical pressure, even if the Abu Dhabi crowd wasn’t exactly thrilled with the pace. Ankalaev, true to form, stayed disciplined on his feet in Round 1, while Guskov darted in and out, constantly switching stances, clearly hunting for one of his signature power shots. That haymaker never materialized, but Guskov did land enough kicks to the leg and body to keep things from being a total blowout early. Round 2 kept that measured pace, but you could tell Ankalaev was getting his reads. He started meeting Guskov’s entries with sharp counters, stringing together two and three-piece combinations on offense. As the round ticked away, Guskov looked more and more tentative, completely shutting down his own chances for an equalizer. Maybe feeling the tide turn, Ankalaev opened up a bit in Round 3, launching a head kick right at the start and following up with a spinning backfist a minute later, even with the crowd voicing their displeasure at the slow burn.
If fans were starting to wonder if they were stuck in a loop, Ankalaev changed the channel completely in Round 4. He wasted zero time taking Guskov down, initiating a lengthy sequence where he calmly pelted Guskov from half guard at the base of the fence. The strikes were sporadic, sure, but they were stinging. When Guskov turned aside midway through the round, “Big Ank” moved to back mount, sinking a hook and just battering Guskov’s head with punches and elbows. With less than a minute left and Guskov offering absolutely nothing in return, Ankalaev switched between punching the head and applying face cranks until the horn. The final round saw Ankalaev pick up exactly where he left off, grounding Guskov in seconds with a single-leg takedown that he smoothly chained into a double. From there, it was more of the same steady diet of elbows and punches. Guskov tried a guillotine choke, but it was abandoned faster than it started. Referee Marc Goddard, after giving Guskov multiple warnings and ample opportunity to defend himself, finally stepped in to stop the beating.
This was a statement win for Magomed Ankalaev. He showed the division he’s still a dominant force, and you have to wonder what’s next for him in the light heavyweight division. Meanwhile, in the co-main event, Ramazonbek Temirov (20-3) came back after nearly 18 months away and reminded everyone why he’s a big deal. He flattened former title challenger Steve Erceg (14-5) with first-round punches. The action was absolutely furious from the jump, Temirov hurting Erceg with a spinning back kick early on. Keep an eye on Temirov too, that guy is dangerous.
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Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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