Magomed-Rasul Gasanov (23-2), the former ACA middleweight champion, has signed with the UFC in a deal announced alongside management company Dominance MMA. Questions remain over the status of his previously scheduled bout with Abubakar Vagaev (24-4), which was cancelled.
Magomed-Rasul Gasanov, the former ACA Middleweight Champion, has signed with the UFC, with the deal announced in conjunction with management company Dominance MMA on June 13, 2026.
Gasanov arrives in the UFC carrying a professional record of 23 wins and 2 losses, bringing with him the credentials of a former champion from ACA, one of Europe and Russia's most prominent regional promotions. The signing represents a significant addition to the UFC's middleweight division, with Dominance MMA — a management group known for placing high-profile fighters in the promotion — facilitating the move.
One question hanging over Gasanov's transition to the UFC concerns a previously scheduled bout against Abubakar Vagaev, who holds a record of 24 wins and 4 losses. That fight was cancelled, and the current status of any potential rescheduling or resolution between the two parties remains unclear.
Why it matters
- Gasanov's 23-2 record and ACA title reign mark him as one of the more accomplished regional prospects to enter the UFC middleweight division in recent memory.
- The cancelled bout with Vagaev, himself an experienced fighter at 24-4, leaves unfinished business that could resurface at a later stage.
- Dominance MMA's involvement suggests Gasanov is positioned for a carefully managed UFC debut rather than an immediate trial-by-fire matchup.
