Bogdan Guskov has issued his first statement following the toughest defeat of his UFC career, vowing to learn from the experience and return stronger.
Guskov stepped into the biggest fight of his career on Saturday when he faced former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi. The bout marked Bogdan Guskov’s first UFC headlining appearance, but it ended in disappointment as Ankalaev secured a fifth-round TKO victory.
While Guskov showed his toughness throughout the contest, he struggled to establish any meaningful offense against the former champion. Ankalaev controlled much of the fight before eventually taking the bout to the ground and earning the stoppage late in the fifth round.
Just days after the loss, Bogdan Guskov took to social media to address fans and thank those who supported him throughout his UFC Abu Dhabi journey.
“I’m sorry to everyone who believed in me,” Guskov wrote.”That night wasn’t my night, but I’m grateful for everyone who stood behind me and supported me through this journey. Thank you for all the kind words and messages. I’ll learn from this, come back stronger. I’m not done yet.”
The defeat snapped a five-fight unbeaten streak for Guskov, who had rapidly emerged as one of the UFC light heavyweight division’s rising contenders.
Before accepting the Ankalaev matchup, Guskov had been scheduled to face former UFC champion Jan Blachowicz in a rematch at UFC Belgrade. Their first meeting at UFC 323 ended in a draw, and many expected the rematch to determine which fighter would move closer to title contention.
However, the opportunity to headline against Ankalaev was too significant to pass up. Although the gamble didn’t pay off, Bogdan Guskov remains determined to rebuild and work his way back into the division’s rankings.
Meanwhile, debate continues over who deserves the blame for the lackluster main event. While some fans criticized Ankalaev’s performance, UFC Hall of Famer Chris Weidman believes the criticism has been directed at the wrong fighter.
Speaking on the Deep Waters podcast, Weidman defended Ankalaev and argued that Guskov’s approach contributed heavily to the fight’s slow pace.
“I think Ankalaev is as good as we always thought he was,” Weidman said. “The first couple of rounds, I think he was taking his time. Then he realized Bogdan wasn’t going to throw crazy shots and go to war with him. He tried to push the pace, looked for the finish, and Guskov was running from him.”
“He shot for a takedown, took him down super easily, and ended up getting the finish by TKO. It wasn’t a super exciting fight, but I don’t think this one was his fault. I think it was Guskov’s fault.”
Weidman also praised Ankalaev for securing a finish against a dangerous opponent despite the criticism surrounding the bout.
“We’re talking about this guy like it’s a negative. He finished a guy who’s very dangerous, so you’ve got to give him props. I feel like we’re being harder on him than most people because we realize how good he is. The guy goes out there and gets a finish, and we’re still saying it was boring.”
Despite the setback, Bogdan Guskov remains a dangerous contender at 205 pounds. Prior to facing Ankalaev, he had built considerable momentum and appeared to be closing in on the division’s elite.
The loss exposed the gap between Guskov and the very top of the light heavyweight division, but at 32 years old, he still has plenty of time to develop and make another run toward title contention.
As for what’s next, the UFC could revisit the previously scheduled rematch with Jan Blachowicz or match Guskov against another ranked contender as he looks to get back on track.
