Magomedrasul Gasanov (23-2), the former ACA middleweight champion, has signed with the UFC in partnership with Dominance MMA management. His previously scheduled bout against Abubakar Vagaev (24-4) was cancelled ahead of the signing.
Magomedrasul Gasanov, the former ACA middleweight champion, has agreed to terms with the UFC, the organization confirmed on June 13, 2026, with Dominance MMA management facilitating the deal.
Gasanov arrives in the UFC carrying a 23-2 professional record, establishing himself as one of the more decorated signings from the ACA roster in recent memory. The former champion's path to the world's premier MMA organization was cleared after a previously scheduled bout against Abubakar Vagaev, who holds a 24-4 record, was called off ahead of the contract being finalized.
Why it matters
- Gasanov's ACA championship pedigree signals the UFC is continuing to mine established regional talent at middleweight, one of the promotion's most competitive divisions.
- The cancellation of the Vagaev fight suggests the UFC move was in motion well before the signing became public, removing Gasanov from the regional circuit entirely.
- Dominance MMA's involvement places Gasanov alongside a well-connected management stable with existing UFC infrastructure, which could accelerate his matchmaking timeline.
The 23-2 record gives Gasanov immediate credibility as a prospect who has already been tested at a high level, and the ACA middleweight title adds a tangible regional accolade to his resume. Vagaev, meanwhile, is left without an opponent following the cancellation, leaving his own near-term plans unsettled.
