Home of Fight Expert Picks: UFC Abu Dhabi
UFC Abu Dhabi arrives Saturday with a main card built around high stakes, local momentum, and a main event that could reshape the light heavyweight title picture. Magomed Ankalaev returns to headline the card against short-notice replacement Bogdan Guskov, and the former champion will be expected to show why he remains one of the division’s most disciplined and dangerous tacticians.
The co-main event adds another intriguing layer, with Steve Erceg meeting Ramazan Temirov in a flyweight matchup that should reveal whether Erceg can regain momentum against a fast, aggressive opponent. Elsewhere on the main card, Islam Dulatov, Rizvan Kuniev, Magomed Zaynukov, and several other rising names give this event a blend of prospect shine and established UFC talent.
This is a loaded UFC Fight Night card, and it has enough competitive edges to deliver on Saturday.
Who do our experts like to get their hands raised in these matchups?
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Kamaru Usman
HayJive – Magomed Ankalaev
- “I’ll take Magomed Ankalaev in the main event. The betting line is steep, and Guskov is dangerous enough to make things interesting, but Ankalaev is the more proven and complete fighter. He may not be the biggest finisher, but I expect him to control the fight and earn the victory.”
Nolan – Magomed Ankalaev
- “This is short notice for Guskov, who I believe already has the poorer cardio. Ankalaev is in a bounce back spot infront of his people.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Magomed Ankalaev
- “Unfortunately, Ankalaev is too patient, great counter striker and will be able to find entries on Guskov, who can get overly excited”
The Fight Analyst – Magomed Ankalaev
- “Magomed Ankalaev is still the best light heavyweight contender and he will show that against short-notice replacement, Bogdan Guskov. If Ankalaev can weather the round 1 storm, he should take over with his grappling and dominate with a finish on the mat.”
Austin Swaim – Magomed Ankalaev
- “Ankalaev is one of the most overrated fighters in UFC, but he’s passed this test. Guskov doesn’t have much diversity to his attacks, showed cardio issues in his last fight, and has downright zero bottom game. I think the Russian faces enough striking adversity early to realize just how large his grappling advantage is. He’ll coast to a win or find the tap.”
Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov
HayJive – Ramazan Temirov
- “I’ll take Temirov here. His power should force Erceg to be more cautious than usual, allowing Temirov to win minutes with his pressure and offense. If he lands clean, he has the ability to change the fight at any moment.”
Nolan – Steve Erceg
- “Temirov is coming off a steroid suspension and hasn’t faced this level of competition. Steve has been grinding his way around the top.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Ramazan Temirov
- “I think Erceg is a tremendous striker, but there will be a moment where he gets caught and I’m unsure he will be able to withstand the power.”
The Fight Analyst – Steve Erceg
- “Steve Erceg should have this fight in the bag as long as his chin can hold up with the power of Ramazan Temirov. Erceg is better in all facets of the fight and the longer the fight goes, the bigger the disparity is. Erceg avoids the big shots early and outstrikes Temirov across three rounds to a decision victory.”
Austin Swaim – Steve Erceg
- “Erceg’s five-inch reach edge here is huge. Temirov looked mid — at best — against Charles Johnson’s length and boxing, and that was before a PED suspension. Astroboy’s chin is a bit of a concern, but I want to buy into what are extremely efficient striking metrics since his loss to Pantoja.”
Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman
HayJive – Islam Dulatov
- “I’ll take Islam Dulatov. This feels like a favorable matchup for him to make an early statement. Terman is coming off a long layoff and didn’t have much success during his previous UFC run. I expect Dulatov to capitalize early and find a first-round knockout.”
Nolan – Islam Dulatov
- “Dulatov will be far more dangerous, younger, and more explosive. I could see an early finish here.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Islam Dulatov
- “Dulatov is quicker perhaps more powerful and has more patience to find the finish.”
The Fight Analyst – Islam Dulatov
- “This is a prime spot for Islam Dulatov to come away with the emphatic finish against the UFC-vet in Wellington Turman.”
Austin Swaim – Islam Dulatov
- “This is shameless. Wellington Turman exits a multi-year layoff to face one of the division’s top prospects. The Brazilian’s 45% striking D is terrible. I’m not sure the UFC gets the Round 1 highlight they want here, but I’m also not going out of my way to fade Dulatov anytime soon.”
Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov
HayJive – Magomed Zaynukov
- “I’ll take Magomed Zaynukov. The line is a little wider than I’d like, but I believe he’s the cleaner striker in this matchup. As long as he can avoid extended grappling exchanges and keep the fight standing, he should be able to outpoint his opponent over three rounds.”
Nolan – Magomed Zaynukov
- “I like both these guys but Zaynukov has shown the ability to land a couple hundred strikes per fight and has solid grappling. He should lean on the guys he surrounds himself self and feed off their winning ways.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Magomed Zaynukov
- “Disputed back and forth that I can see being close, though Abu Dhabi judges will side with him.”
The Fight Analyst – Magomed Zaynukov
- “Finally, Magomed Zaynukov is making his UFC debut, and while it’s a tough one against Damian Rzepecki, he should come away with the win. His technical striking is going to make it hard for Rzepecki to close the distance and try to work in his grappling. Zaynkov’s takedown will keep this fight a striking affair where he will outstrike Rzepecki to a unanimous decision win.”
Austin Swaim – Magomed Zaynukov
- “Rzepecki’s kickboxing tape is respectable, and I think he was on his way to earning a Contender Series or OKTAGON appearance. At this stage, he’s just too raw and hittable against a sniper like Zaynukov, whose power might be underrated just because his first octagon opponent was made out of rubber.”
Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune
HayJive – Rizvan Kuniev
- “I’ll take Rizvan Kuniev. I think he’s the better overall fighter and should be able to stuff Fortune’s takedown attempts while having the edge on the feet. If he fights to his strengths, he should control this matchup.”
Nolan – Rizvan Kuniev
- “I think Kuniev will throw more volume here. He can stuff takedowns and keep it standing where he has the ability to KO Fortune.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Rizvan Kuniev
- “Blob-Fest fight, I can see Kuniev dragging this three rounds and winning based off his presence and pace.”
The Fight Analyst – Rizvan Kuniev
- “While Tyrell Fortune looks like a fine addition to the heavyweight division, Rizvan Kuniev is a potential top-5 heavyweight. Kuniev is the bigger and stronger competitor with the better striking fundamentals. If Kuniev can avoid the takedowns and make Fortune work in round 1, he should take the fight to him the longer it goes.”
Austin Swaim – Rizvan Kuniev
- “I faded Fortune with Tybura — and was nearly rewarded. Not doing so with Kuniev would be malpractice. The Russian has defended 21 of 23 takedowns so far and is insanely durable. This could be the best performance of his career if Fortune’s chin or submission defense issues in Bellator rear their head once more.”
Abubakar Vagaev vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev
HayJive – Abubakar Vagaev
- “I’ll take Abubakar Vagaev here. I think he has the cardio and wrestling advantages, which should allow him to grind out rounds and control the fight. The betting line feels a bit wide, but I still favor Vagaev to get his hand raised.”
Nolan – Abubakar Vagaev
- “I was very under impressed by Saygid against Dalby. Vagaev brings a pressure style and I believe he will be more dangerous here as well.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Abubakar Vagaev
- “More composed, won’t be overly flashy but will get the job done.”
The Fight Analyst – Abubakar Vagaev
- “Abubakar Vagaev comes into this matchup as the more well-rounded fighter and his ability to mix in the grappling will make it difficult for Saygid Izagakhmaev to get his game going. Seeing as how lackluster Izagakhmaev’s performance was in his UFC debut, leads me to believe that another one is on the horizon against the tough Vagaev.”
Austin Swaim – Saygid Izagakhmaev
- “Did a Khamzat Chimaev Instagram post really move this line this much? Izagakhmaev gassed himself wrestling in his debut against Dalby, a guy who lives to do just that. I still think he’s a fast, explosive striker at distance with wrestling upside, and he’s much larger than his opponent here. Vagaev’s chin has been found several times regionally. I grade this much, much closer to a pick ‘em than it sits.”
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