Magomed Ankalaev faced a tough lesson at UFC 320, where he fought Alex Pereira despite suffering from a broken rib. Ignoring his team's advice to withdraw, Ankalaev now takes full responsibility for his decision, stating, "You have to pay for your mistakes. That's what I did."

After a nine-month hiatus, Ankalaev is set to face Bogdan Guskov at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi. His previous bout against Pereira marked his first title defense, which ended in an 80-second knockout loss, leading to scrutiny over his choice to fight injured.

Ankalaev reflected on his experience, emphasizing the unpredictability of the fight business.

• Key Points:
  • Ignored team advice to pull out of UFC 320
  • Acknowledges the impact of his injury on performance
  • Remains determined to reclaim his standing in the light heavyweight division

He expressed confusion over the fickleness of public perception in the fight world, noting, "When you win fights, everyone talks about you. The second you lose, no one talks about you. They forget about you. I'm puzzled."

Meanwhile, Pereira has vacated the light heavyweight title and is aiming for a return to the heavyweight division in November. Ankalaev remains hopeful for a rematch with Pereira, stating, "If it were up to me, I'd love for him to come back to his division so we can have our rubber match."

As Ankalaev prepares for his comeback, he is focused on proving himself and setting the record straight in future bouts.