Khamzat Chimaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov reportedly secured UFC contracts for Vagaev and Gasanov respectively by going directly through organization leadership, bypassing the matchmaking team. Matchmakers, reportedly displeased at being presented with a fait accompli, are said to have retaliated by first booking Gasanov against Vagaev, then removing Gasanov from the card citing a failed drug-testing timeline. Vagaev was subsequently informed his only available slot required moving up to 170 lbs to face Saygid Izagakhmaev, a pairing the matchmakers reportedly viewed as a difficult test for a fighter they also have reservations about.
Reports surfaced on June 22 suggesting a behind-the-scenes dispute between UFC matchmakers and two prominent figures in the combat sports world — Khamzat Chimaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov — over how several fighters recently secured contracts with the organization. The story, which has not been officially confirmed, points to growing tension over the boundaries of influence inside the UFC's signing process.
According to the reports, both Chimaev and Nurmagomedov went directly to UFC leadership to land deals for their respective fighters — Vagaev and Gasanov — effectively presenting the matchmaking team with a situation already decided. The matchmakers, reportedly unhappy at being sidestepped, are said to have first scheduled Gasanov against Vagaev before pulling Gasanov from the card over a failed drug-testing timeline issue. Vagaev was then told his remaining option was a bout at 170 pounds against Saygid Izagakhmaev, a fight the matchmakers reportedly considered a stiff welcome to the roster.
Chimaev, a 32-year-old middleweight ranked first in his division and tenth pound-for-pound, carries a 15-1-0 record and fights out of Allstars Training Center. The six-foot-two fighter lands 4.04 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate and averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the more complete fighters on the roster. Nurmagomedov, 37, is the legendary undefeated former champion at 29-0-0, long recognized for his suffocating grappling — 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Izagakhmaev, the 31-year-old Russian standing six feet tall with a 74-inch reach, holds a 22-3-0 record and trains at the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School. He averages 4.0 takedowns per 15 minutes and posts a 58 percent striking accuracy, signaling a well-rounded game built around control rather than volume.
Why it matters
- The reported friction raises questions about how fighter signings are brokered when influential figures are involved
- Vagaev moving up a weight class on short notice against Izagakhmaev represents a significant early challenge
- The situation, if accurate, highlights potential structural tension between matchmakers and outside power brokers within the promotion
