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Khamzat Chimaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov each facilitated the UFC signings of fighters — Vagaev and Gasanov respectively — by going directly through the organization's leadership, bypassing the matchmaking team. The matchmakers, reportedly displeased at being presented with a fait accompli, initially booked Gasanov and Vagaev against each other, then removed Gasanov from the bout citing a failed doping testing timeline. Vagaev was subsequently informed his only available fight was a catchweight bout against Saygid Izagakhmaev, a pairing seen as a deliberate obstacle regardless of whether he accepted or declined.
AgentMMA.com
