Magomedrasul Gasanov (23-2), former ACA middleweight champion, has signed with the UFC in partnership with management company Dominance MMA. His previously scheduled bout against Abubakar Vagaev (24-4) was cancelled, with no official explanation provided.
Former ACA Middleweight Champion Magomedrasul Gasanov has signed with the UFC, the organization confirmed, with the deal brokered in partnership with management company Dominance MMA.
Gasanov arrives in the UFC carrying a professional record of 23 wins and 2 losses, bringing his ACA middleweight title pedigree with him as he makes the step up to the biggest stage in mixed martial arts. The signing marks a significant move for a fighter who established himself as one of the top middleweights outside the UFC's roster.
The transition to the UFC comes with a notable footnote. A previously scheduled bout between Gasanov and Abubakar Vagaev, who holds a record of 24-4, was cancelled ahead of the signing, though no official explanation was provided for why the fight fell through.
Why it matters
- Gasanov enters the UFC middleweight division as a former regional champion with a deep 23-2 record, making him an immediate name to watch in a stacked 185-pound roster.
- The Dominance MMA partnership suggests careful career management as Gasanov navigates his early matchmaking inside the organization.
- The cancellation of the Vagaev bout leaves a well-credentialed 24-4 opponent without a scheduled fight, potentially opening a future matchup between the two inside the UFC.
