Former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev scored a fifth-round TKO win over No. 9-ranked Bogdan Guskov in UFC Abu Dhabi's main event, but getting there was a chore. The fight was widely panned by fans for being incredibly boring up until the stoppage.

Current UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg was paying close attention. He watched the main event cageside before reacting to Ankalaev's win backstage.

"Congrats to Ankalaev," Ulberg told UFC reporter Charly Arnolt. "I saw what I needed to see, and I'll make sure I do everything I can to get back in there. The division is a little shaky at the moment. No one is very dominant at the moment. I saw what I needed to see. I'll leave it at that.

"I've always seen Ankalaev as a top contender. So, he's definitely one of the guys that will be up next as well."

Ulberg's Return Timeline

Ulberg is currently sidelined recovering from a torn ACL, which he suffered during his title-winning knockout over Jiri Prochazka. He gave an update on when he hopes to return.

"We're looking at early next year, so 2027 if we're being smart, so we don't come in too early and re-injure ourselves," Ulberg said.

What's Next for the Division?

Ulberg is injured. Ankalaev just won but did not exactly set the world on fire. Alex Pereira is no longer in the division. Prochazka is coming off a knockout loss. Several contenders are still trying to separate themselves from the pack.

The good news for the UFC is that Ulberg likely will not return until early 2027, which gives the division several more months to sort itself out. Someone still has time to break through because right now, 205 pounds feels wide open.