The UFC has barely recovered from the Conor McGregor injury chaos at UFC 329, and now another card has taken a significant hit. Khalil Rountree Jr has been forced out of the UFC Abu Dhabi main event on July 25 at Etihad Arena due to injury, leaving Magomed Ankalaev without a headline opponent less than two weeks out.
Bogdan Guskov Steps In After Khalil Rountree Jr withdraws from Magomed Ankalaev Bout
Bogdan Guskov has been drafted in as the replacement, moving up from his previously scheduled August 1 rematch with Jan Blachowicz following their December draw at UFC 323. Guskov has been on a four-fight finishing streak since his UFC debut loss in 2023 and arrives at UFC Abu Dhabi with genuine momentum.
The UFC has not yet confirmed whether Blachowicz will receive a new opponent for the August 1 bout.
What Is at Stake for Magomed Ankalaev
Magomed Ankalaev is desperate to get back on track. He lost the light heavyweight title to Alex Pereira in their rematch at UFC 320 last October. This fight against Guskov is his first step toward rebuilding a title case.
Updated UFC Abu Dhabi Card
- Magomed Ankalaev vs Bogdan Guskov
- Damian Rzepecki vs Magomed Zaynukov
- Sam Patterson vs Santiago Ponzinibbio
- Thomas Petersen vs Valter Walker
- Rizvan Kuniev vs Tyrell Fortune
- Ismael Bonfim vs Axel Sola
- Brendson Ribeiro vs Magomed Tuchalov
- Steve Erceg vs Ramazan Temirov
- Saygid Izagakhmaev vs Abubakar Vagaev
- Islam Dulatov vs Wellington Turman
- Cody Gibson vs Abdul Hussein
Khalil Rountree Jr pulls out of UFC Abu Dhabi:
Also read: Paddy Pimblett reacts after Conor McGregor suffers heartbreaking injury at UFC 329
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