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There’s a special early morning start time on Saturday as the UFC heads to Abu Dhabi this weekend.Some names you probably have not seen or heard before are on this card, as Eastern European and Middle Eastern fighters often fight on cards like these if they have visa issues stateside.Nine of the 12 fights this weekend are expected to end inside the distance, according to the oddsmakers.The entire card begins bright and early on Saturday at 9 a.m.Eastern for the prelims, and the main card starts at 12 p.m.
Eastern.Here are our complete UFC Abu Dhabi predictions:No one would ever deny Ankalaev’s talent.The former UFC light heavyweight champion has looked dominant at times but struggled during others with boneheaded decisions that resulted in his two losses.Guskov hits hard as one of the stronger power punchers in the UFC, but is taking this fight on short notice, having been previously scheduled to fight Jan Blachowicz.Guskov will need to win this fight by knockout, as Ankalaev will have better wrestling and higher levels of volume in the boxing department.
For that reason, Guskov is a tough fighter to bet on even at a big underdog price of +430.Ankalaev should come away with a victory here, but I suspect Guskov does a good enough job to stay competitive and not get knocked out, which the oddsmakers are projecting (Ankalaev to win by knockout is -140).Guskov has fought this Russian style throughout his career while at Eastern European promotions such as Fight Nights Global and others.This shouldn’t be a totally unfamiliar spot for Guskov, and Ankalaev is usually a guy that avoids damage and coasts to a decision when he is allowed to do so.Prediction: Ankalaev wins by decision (+440, FanDuel).Pretty short turnaround for Erceg after he defeated Tim Elliott last time out in May, and he comes back into the octagon to fight Temirov.We haven’t seen Temirov since March 2025, as he returns from a 12-month performance-enhancing drug suspension.That could be to his be...