Bogdan Guskov says nobody wanted Ankalaev fight on short notice

Bogdan Guskov needed less than a minute to accept a main event fight against former UFC champion Magomed Ankalaev after several ranked light heavyweights passed on the opportunity.

Ankalaev was set to headline UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25 against Khalil Rountree before an injury forced Rountree from the card with 14 days to go. The promotion then approached multiple fighters to fill the slot, according to Sherdog. Jan Blachowicz, originally booked against Guskov at UFC Belgrade on Aug. 1, asked for 24 hours to determine if he could make weight. The UFC moved on before the former champion delivered an answer, leaving Blachowicz without an opponent. Paulo Costa also received a call but declined, citing an insufficient offer for a 16-hour flight to Abu Dhabi on short turnaround.

Guskov on instant decision to face Ankalaev

Guskov told Red Corner MMA his manager offered him a day to consider the matchup. The Russian heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight hung up the phone, reconsidered for 30 seconds, then called back with his answer. "My manager called and said, 'We've got an opportunity. I'm not pushing you. I'm not insisting on anything. Think it over for 24 hours and give me your answer,'" Guskov said. "We talked, I put the phone down, and just 30 seconds later, I was like, 'What is there to think about?' I called him back right away, as there was nothing to think about."

Guskov, 18-3 in his career, said he anticipated the rejections before his own manager placed the call. "I don't need 24 hours to get to the scales and find out whether I can make weight or not, as some other guys," he said. "So everybody turned it down. And I knew from the start that nobody would want to fight Magomed."

The UFC Abu Dhabi card streams July 25 from Etihad Arena with Ankalaev and Guskov headlining at light heavyweight.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Bogdan Guskov says nobody wanted Magomed Ankalaev fight on short notice