Saygid Izagakhmaev (0-1 UFC) has been booked as a replacement for Magomedrasul Gasanov and will meet Abubakar Vagaev at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25. The bout is scheduled for the welterweight division.
Saygid Izagakhmaev has stepped in on short notice to face Abubakar Vagaev at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25, replacing the originally scheduled Magomedrasul Gasanov in a welterweight contest.
Izagakhmaev, 31, enters the bout carrying a 22-3-0 professional record, though he is still searching for his first UFC victory after going 0-1 inside the promotion. The Russian fights out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School and brings a well-rounded grappling-heavy game to the octagon. Standing six feet tall with a 74-inch reach, he is a disciplined wrestler who averages four takedowns per 15 minutes. His striking output is measured rather than high-volume, landing 1.33 significant strikes per minute, but he converts at a notably sharp 58 percent accuracy — suggesting he picks his shots carefully rather than throwing in volume. Submission attempts are not a featured part of his game based on available data.
No verified statistical profile for Vagaev was available at the time of this report, so additional context on his record and style cannot be confirmed.
Why it matters
- Izagakhmaev steps in as a late replacement, adding an element of uncertainty in his preparation heading into the fight.
- A win would be his first inside the UFC and would put his extensive 22-fight professional résumé to work at the highest level of the sport.
- The welterweight division remains one of the most competitive in the UFC, meaning any result at UFC Abu Dhabi carries potential ranking implications for both men.
