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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is live THIS MORNING (Sat., July 25, 2026) with UFC Abu Dhabi, streaming live online via Paramount+. The event happens inside Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The re-worked main event is Magomed Ankalaev vs. Bogdan Guskov.
UFC Abu Dhabi Preview
“Big” Ank was supposed to be fighting Khalil Rountree Jr. in this spot, but “War Horse” pulled out a few weeks ago (full details here). Guskov comes in for the biggest opportunity of his career. He was getting ready to rematch Jan Blachowicz at next week’s card, but will instead get his first main event here. If he wins, he’ll be catapulted up the rankings. Ankalaev is currently sitting second, behind Alex Pereira and division champion, Carlos Ulberg.
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The co-main event is Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov. Erceg is a former Flyweight title challenger and he’s on a mini win streak right now. Temirov, meanwhile, has only competed twice in UFC and has been out for about a year.
Yet this is a pick ‘em!
Rounding out UFC Abu Dhabi’s main card is Magomed “Don’t Call Me John Pork” Zaynukov vs. Damian Rzepecki, Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune and Abubaker Vagaev vs. Sayid Izagakhmaev (that’s Chechnya vs. Dagestan, by the way).
UFC Abu Dhabi’s “Prelims” are headlined by Valter Walker vs. Thomas Petersen. Walker will look for his record fifth heel hook submission in a row, I’m sure. The “Prelims” also have Ismael Bonfim vs. Axel Sola and Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Sam Patterson.
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UFC Abu Dhabi Start Date and Time
We’re operating at primetime over in Abu Dhabi. That means we have a special start time this weekend. Checkout the Paramount+ timings inside the Etihad Arenal below:
UFC Abu Dhabi “Prelims” will begin at 9 a.m. ET.
UFC Abu Dhabi main card is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. ET.
The live blog here starts rolling below at 9 a.m. ET. Come in and say hi!
UFC ABU DHABI QUICK RESULTS
Main card
205 lbs.: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Bogdan Guskov
125 lbs.: Steve Erceg vs. Ramazan Temirov
170 lbs.: Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman— Fight cancelled due to hospitalization (full details HERE)155 lbs.: Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov
265 lbs.: Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune
170 lbs.: Abubakar Vagaev vs. Saigid Izagakhmaev
Prelims
265 lbs.: Valter Walker def. Thomas Petersen by submission (calf slicer), round 1 (1:32)
205 lbs.: Mohammad Saidov def. Dustin Jacoby by TKO (punches), round 2 (4:49)
170 lbs.: Sam Patterson def. Santiago Ponznibbio by TKO (punches), round 2 (3:06) — HIGHLIGHTS
155 lbs.: Axel Sola def. Ismael Bonfim by submission (D’arce choke), round 1 (4:44)
205 lbs.: Magomed Tuchalov def. Brendson Ribeiro by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
155 lbs.: Nurullo Aliev def. Mike Davis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
135 lbs.: Abdul Hussein def. Cody Gibson by submission (head and arm choke), round 3 (3:07) — HIGHLIGHTS
UFC ABU DHABI PLAY-BY-PLAY UPDATES
Prelims
Valter Walker vs. Thomas Petersen: Well it wasn’t a heel hook… Walker pulled guard on Petersen early and then went for his heel hook. Petersen did a good job of defending that and was trying to crawl out of trouble. But Walker was able to trap Petersen’s heel and then position it into a calf slicer. Petersen tapped before something snapped.
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Official decision: Valter Walker def. Thomas Petersen by submission (calf slicer), round 1 (1:32)
Mohammad Saidov vs. Dustin Jacoby: Jacoby looked pretty good early on in this fight, brawling with Said — who looked very cold and calculated. In the second round Said’s speed and power started to wear on Jacoby. Then, the newcomer, landed an epic punch and head kick combo that floored Jacoby. Jacoby survived that, but Said swarmed and forced a rather late TKO.
Official decision: Mohammad Saidov def. Dustin Jacoby by TKO (punches), round 2 (4:49)
Sam Patterson vs. Santiago Ponznibbio: Ponznibbio landed some good shots early, but the 40 year-old slowed down fast. Patterson, who is ten years younger, heated up midway through the first and started hurting Ponznibbio with everything that landed. Ponznibbio came out tired and dazed in the second and Patterson kept piling on the pressure until he couldn’t take anymore.
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Official decision: Sam Patterson def. Santiago Ponznibbio by TKO (punches), round 2 (3:06)
Ismael Bonfim vs. Axel Sola: Sola gets a very impressive first round finish. Bonfim went for a single leg and Sola chose offense as the best defense. He nailed Bonfim with short punches to the side of the head and was able to put him down and then continue with ground and pound. As Bonfim squirmed, he locked up a D’arce for the win.
Official decision: Axel Sola def. Ismael Bonfim by submission (D’arce choke), round 1 (4:44)
Brendson Ribeiro vs. Magomed Tuchalov: Ribeiro stuns Tuchalov in the first round, hurting him on the feet and seemingly unsettling him with his offense. Tuchalov responded in the second and third and was able to use his wrestling to grind out a decision. That wasn’t the showcase he was hoping for here, though.
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Official decision: Magomed Tuchalov def. Brendson Ribeiro by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Nurullo Aliev vs. Mike Davis: Aliev’s wrestling looked elite today. He dominated Mike Davis and getting give him room to breathe, let alone mount any kind of offense. David tried to make things interesting, off his back, but Aliev was just far too good. Still… would have been nice if all that dominance led to a finish.
Official decision: Nurullo Aliev def. Mike Davis by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Abdul Hussein vs. Cody Gibson: Gibson slapped on a mounted guillotine early in the first round and then cycled through about six different choke styles. Hussein stayed calm and was able to eventually squeeze himself out of trouble. Gibson, who came in on short notice, was exhausted after that. He was a lame duck on the feet and in the third, Hussein was able to drag him down and get a head and arm choke of his own, which Gibson tapped from (out of exhaustion more than anything else).
Official decision: Abdul Hussein def. Cody Gibson by submission (head and arm choke), round 3 (3:07)
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Live stream begins at 9 A.M ET. …
