Light heavyweight knockout artist accepts fight with Poatan's rival and takes a jab at Borrachinha.

Borrachinha backstage at the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

PUBLICITY:

Owner of 15 knockout victories as a professional and one of the most violent names in the light heavyweight category (up to 93 kg), Bogdan Guskov will have the opportunity to change his level as an athlete when he duels with Magomed Ankalaev in the main fight of UFC Abu Dhabi , which will be held next Saturday (18). Originally scheduled to face Jan Blachowicz , the Uzbek accepted to occupy the place of Khalil Rountree Jr, the Russian's original opponent and also took the opportunity to take a dig at Paulo Borrachinha.

According to the fighter, the offer was too good to refuse, so he immediately accepted to face the Russian, even though he had less time to prepare for Magomed Ankalaev 's specific skills.

See too

Michel Pereira surprises with his reaction to being fired from the UFC.

'New Anderson Silva' returns to the octagon at UFC event in France; find out more.

Dricus Du Plessis is outraged by a possible rematch between Strickland and Chimaev in the UFC.

“My manager called and said there was an opportunity. He asked me to think about it for 24 hours. I hung up the phone and, about 30 seconds later, I called him back. I said, 'What is there to think about?' I don't need 24 hours to step on the scale like other guys, or like that other guy who needed a 16-hour flight,” Guskov told Red Corner MMA this Wednesday (15).

“I don't need 24 hours to get on the scale like other guys”: Bogdan Guskov says he needed just 30 seconds to accept the call to step in on short notice and face former champion Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi.

“My manager called and said there was an… pic.twitter.com/k6Sz8qcRrI

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 15, 2026

Borrachinha admitted to having refused the fight.

Paulo Borrachinha is currently experiencing a period of recovery in the UFC.

Coming off a big knockout victory against Azamat Murzakanov in April of this year, Borrachinha is ranked fourth in the light heavyweight division (up to 93 kg). Because of this, the fighter from Contagem, Minas Gerais, was one of those sought after to fill Khalil Rountree Jr.'s spot in the fight against Ankalaev. However, the Brazilian himself admitted he had no interest in participating in the fight.

“It’s less than 14 days to catch a flight to Abu Dhabi. It’s a 16-hour flight, five rounds, for the same money, and not even for an interim belt. I don’t think that makes sense right now,” Borrachinha said in an interview with reporter Ariel Helwani on 'The Ariel Helwani Show'.

Exclusive: Michael PQD talks about his brutal UFC debut victory.