Abdul Hussein and Magomed Tuchalov set for UFC Abu Dhabi debuts
Former IMMAF champions Abdul Hussein and Magomed Tuchalov will make their UFC debuts this weekend at UFC Abu Dhabi: Ankalaev vs. Guskov. The Finnish bantamweight faces short-notice replacement Cody Gibson, while undefeated Russian middleweight Tuchalov meets Brendson Ribeiro inside Etihad Arena.
Key Takeaways
- Abdul Hussein (15-2) makes his UFC debut against Cody Gibson after Muin Gafurov withdrew on short notice.
- Hussein is a former IMMAF European (2015) and World (2016) bantamweight champion and a heavy betting favorite.
- Magomed Tuchalov (6-0) debuts at middleweight against Brendson Ribeiro after five finishes in six pro wins.
- Both first earned gold on the IMMAF amateur circuit before turning professional.
Who is Abdul Hussein facing at UFC Abu Dhabi?
According to IMMAF, Abdul Hussein enters the Octagon with a 15-2 record after years fighting across multiple organizations.
Yahoo Sports reports that California’s Cody Gibson stepped in on about three weeks’ notice after Muin Gafurov pulled out of the bout. Gibson is a former Ultimate Fighter runner-up with many years of UFC experience, which IMMAF calls a difficult first matchup for a debutant.
BetMGM lists the opener for Saturday’s card inside Etihad Arena on Yas Island, UAE, with Hussein roughly age 28 and Gibson 38. DraftKings odds cited by Yahoo Sports had Hussein near -470 and Gibson near +360; BetMGM showed Hussein around -550 and Gibson +400.
Why does Abdul Hussein’s IMMAF resume matter?
Representing Finland, Hussein won the 2015 IMMAF European Championships after four victories, defeating Marco Zannetti in the final. At the 2016 World Championships, he again won four fights and took gold by beating David Evans in the final, following wins over Alexander Pereira, Lath Stevens, and Hughie O’Rourke.
Those titles made him one of the top amateur bantamweights of his generation, yet he did not reach the UFC quickly. One of his two pro losses came against fellow IMMAF alumnus Muhammad Mokaev in 2021. Since then, IMMAF notes a long winning streak with several finishes.
BetMGM says he is riding an eight-fight win streak dating to 2023 and was the former Ice Cage champion after stopping Tyson Nam. Yahoo Sports adds he is 5-0 under UAE Warriors and enters as a polished grappler favored to control Gibson on the ground.
What about Magomed Tuchalov’s UFC debut?
Tuchalov won the 2019 IMMAF Junior World Championships in the 185-pound division, beating Mehdi Taki, Lukas Kaplan, and Matej Hrkal for gold. As a pro he is undefeated at 6-0, with five finishes by submission, elbows, ground and pound, and even a flying knee.
In his most recent fight, he stopped former UFC fighter Caio Machado in the first round. He now faces Brendson Ribeiro, a Brazilian already active in the UFC and known for power. IMMAF says a win would quickly make Tuchalov an interesting middleweight name.
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How different are their paths to the Octagon?
Hussein spent years gaining experience before earning his UFC chance. Tuchalov reached the organization after only six professional fights, yet both first made their names in IMMAF.
This weekend in Abu Dhabi, they will try to show that amateur success can also translate inside the Octagon.