Former ACA middleweight champion Magomedrasul Gasanov has signed with the UFC. He will make his promotional debut at the July 25 card in Abu Dhabi, which also features Magomed Ankalaev vs. Khalil Rountri.
Magomedrasul Gasanov has signed with the UFC and is set to make his promotional debut on the July 25 card in Abu Dhabi, the organization confirmed ahead of an event that also features a high-profile light heavyweight headliner.
Gasanov arrives in the UFC as a former ACA middleweight champion, bringing with him a pedigree built in one of Europe's most competitive regional promotions. No record, age, or physical data for Gasanov is currently confirmed in the AgentMMA database, but his ACA title reign signals the UFC views him as a ready-made addition to the middleweight division.
The Abu Dhabi card is anchored by Magomed Ankalaev, the number-one ranked light heavyweight contender who also sits fifth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 34-year-old Russian, who trains out of Gorets Fight Club and carries a 21-2-1 professional record, faces Khalil Rountree on the same night. Standing six-foot-three with a 75-inch reach, Ankalaev fights out of the orthodox stance and lands 3.65 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent striking accuracy clip, making him one of the more technically precise fighters in the 205-pound division. He averages 0.79 takedowns per 15 minutes, rounding out a well-balanced offensive game.
Why it matters
- Gasanov's signing adds a decorated regional champion to a middleweight division that remains one of the UFC's most competitive.
- Debuting on a card headlined by a top-five pound-for-pound fighter gives Gasanov immediate exposure on a marquee Abu Dhabi show.
- Ankalaev vs. Rountree carries significant light heavyweight rankings implications, adding further weight to an already notable event.
