The Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, sets the stage for a UFC Fight Night card this Saturday. The first-ranked contender in the light heavyweight division, Magomed Ankalaev, is facing No. 9-ranked Bogdan Guskov in the main event. There is also a top-10 heavyweight matchup on the main card in a fight card full of global matchups. The prelims begin at 9 a.m. ET and the main card starts at 12 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Here are our top UFC Fight Night picks for Ankalaev vs. Guskov.
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UFC Fight Night Picks: Ankalaev vs. Guskov Best Bets (2026)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Valter Walker (-175) vs. Thomas Petersen (+145)
Valter Walker started his UFC journey with a loss to Lukasz Brzeski, but has rattled off four straight victories since then. They were all submission victories via heel hook, which has become his go-to submission.
Thomas Petersen is 3-3 in the UFC, coming off a victory over Guilherme Pat in April. He lost to Vitor Petrino via knockout before that. Petersen is a decent fighter in the heavyweight division, but Walker is working his way into the top 10.
If you look at Walker's record, it would lead you to believe he wins this fight via heel hook. I do not disagree, but I think opponents will start to catch on and prepare for it. Walker has a chance to land a heavy punch against Petersen, who has been knocked out twice since February 2025. I do not hate Walker via submission, but I would play it straight up given Petersen's questionable chin.
Bet: Valter Walker (-175)
Steve Erceg (-110) vs. Ramazan Temirov (-110)
Steve Erceg faltered a couple times after losing to Alexandre Pantoja in a title fight in 2024, but has steadied the ship. He lost to Kai Kara-France via knockout in 2024, and opened 2025 with a unanimous decision loss to Brandon Moreno. Erceg bounced back with decision wins over Ode Osbourne and Tim Elliott. He is now facing a tough test in Ramazan Temirov.
Temirov is 2-0 in the UFC with a 19-3 professional record. He made his debut against CJ Vergara and knocked him out in the first round. He followed that with a decision victory over Charles Johnson. Those are two solid victories, especially in your first two UFC bouts.
Temirov is a capable striker with explosive power. He is a quick starter and utilizes kicks to find a lot of first-round finishes. He possesses a lot of power in the flyweight division. Temirov lands 4.37 significant strikes and absorbs 3.93 significant strikes per minute in the UFC.
Erceg is a technical striker with a capable ground game who uses his reach to his advantage. He stands four inches taller than Temirov and has a five-inch reach advantage. He lands 4.64 significant strikes and absorbs 4.07 significant strikes per minute. Erceg's last fight against an explosive power puncher was against Kara-France. He was knocked out in the first round.
Temirov cannot stray away from his game and striking style. He can touch Erceg's chin and apply pressure. He has to implement his style and control where this fight takes place. If Erceg can touch him at range and control the fight, it will be a long night for Temirov. Temirov must start fast and finish the fight early.
