ABU DHABI: UFC, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, is returning to the UAE capital with a light heavyweight headliner as former champion and No. 1-ranked Magomed Ankalaev takes on No. 5-ranked Khalil Rountree Jr. on Saturday, July 25, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
Ankalaev (21-2-1, fighting out of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia) returns to the Octagon for the first time since losing the light heavyweight title to Alex Pereira at UFC 320 last October, a result that ended a seven-year unbeaten run.
Before that setback, the 33-year-old had defeated Pereira to claim the belt at UFC 313, after wins over Anthony Smith, Johnny Walker, and Aleksandar Rakic on his road to the title. Currently positioned as the No. 1 contender in the division, Ankalaev is targeting a decisive win in hopes of setting up another shot at the belt.
Rountree Jr. (15-7, 1NC, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada) enters as the underdog with the chance to spoil Ankalaev’s return. The 36-year-old former title challenger made headlines last June in Baku, defeating former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill by unanimous decision in his second straight main event, and a win against Ankalaev would likely put him back in title contention.
In the co-main event, No. 2-ranked bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov (20-1, fighting out of Kizilyurt, Dagestan, Russia) and No. 9-ranked David Martinez (14-1, fighting out of Mexico City, Mexico) square off in a pivotal divisional matchup.
Nurmagomedov bounced back from his title loss to Merab Dvalishvili with back-to-back unanimous decision wins over Mario Bautista in October 2025 and Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 324 in January, while Martinez has gone 3-0 in the UFC, demonstrating he can deliver a fast finish and battle for three hard rounds in order to earn victories against established opposition.
