Magomed Ankalaev returned to the win column at UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday, July 25, 2026, closing the show with a late TKO at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The ending gave fans a decisive result after what was widely seen as a slow and uneventful main event.
For much of the fight, Ankalaev did not deliver the kind of performance that usually creates major buzz. The former UFC light heavyweight champion appeared to be grinding through a measured outing rather than putting on an explosive display, which left the headliner short on excitement.
That changed late, when Ankalaev found the finish and stopped his opponent by TKO. The stoppage helped rescue the overall impression of the bout and ensured that the final takeaway from UFC Abu Dhabi was Ankalaev getting his hand raised rather than the lack of action earlier in the contest.
While the performance may not rank among his most memorable, the result still matters for Ankalaev as he moves forward in the light heavyweight picture. In the end, the late finish was the biggest highlight from a main event that needed one.
