Saygid Izagakhmaev (0-1 UFC) has been booked as a replacement for the injured Magomedrasul Gasanov and will face Abubakar Vagaev at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25. The bout is scheduled at welterweight.
Saygid Izagakhmaev has been called upon as a late replacement and will step into the Octagon against Abubakar Vagaev at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25, with the pairing set for welterweight.
Izagakhmaev enters the contest carrying a professional record of 22-3-0, though his UFC tenure got off to a difficult start with a loss in his promotional debut, leaving him at 0-1 inside the organization. The 31-year-old Russian trains out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School and stands six feet tall with a 74-inch reach. His statistical profile leans heavily on the grappling side, with four takedowns per 15 minutes, while his striking output sits at 1.33 significant strikes landed per minute — though he compensates with an impressive 58 percent striking accuracy. He registers no submission attempts per 15 minutes, suggesting his ground work centers on control and positional dominance rather than finishing on the mat.
Izagakhmaev slides into the slot vacated by Magomedrasul Gasanov, who withdrew due to injury, giving him little preparation time for a welterweight assignment on a high-profile card.
Verified data for Vagaev was not available at the time of reporting.
Why it matters
- Izagakhmaev is fighting to rebound from his first UFC loss, making this a pivotal moment in his promotional career
- His elite takedown rate could define the stylistic dynamics of the matchup at 170 pounds
- A win would re-establish him as a credible welterweight contender; a second loss would place significant pressure on his UFC standing
- The late-replacement circumstances mean both fighters face compressed timelines heading into the July 25 event in Abu Dhabi
