Khamzat Chimaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov reportedly arranged the UFC signings of their respective fighters — Vagaev and Gasanov — by going directly through the organization's top brass, bypassing the matchmaking team. According to the account, the matchmakers responded by booking Gasanov against Vagaev, then later removing Gasanov from the bout on the grounds he could not complete drug testing in time. Vagaev was subsequently told the only available slot for him was at 77 kg against Saygid Izagakhmaev, a matchup the matchmaking team reportedly engineered to either force Vagaev to decline or hand Izagakhmaev a difficult fight.
Reports have emerged suggesting that both Khamzat Chimaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov clashed with UFC matchmakers after allegedly bypassing the department entirely to secure roster spots for fighters from their respective camps — a claim that, if accurate, reveals significant tension behind the scenes at the promotion.
According to the unconfirmed account, Chimaev arranged the signing of his fighter Vagaev, while Nurmagomedov did the same for Gasanov, with both men going directly through the UFC's top leadership rather than through the standard matchmaking process. The matchmaking team reportedly responded by booking Gasanov against Vagaev, then pulling Gasanov from the bout, citing an inability to complete drug testing on time. Vagaev was subsequently informed that his only available option was a fight at 77 kilograms against Saygid Izagakhmaev — a pairing the report claims was deliberately constructed to either pressure Vagaev into turning down the bout or to place Izagakhmaev in an unexpectedly tough assignment.
Chimaev, who holds a 15-1 record and currently sits ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, brings considerable organizational clout as one of the UFC's most prominent active fighters. The 30-two-year-old Borz averages 4.04 significant strikes per minute with an impressive sixty percent accuracy rate, and also contributes 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes.
Nurmagomedov, the undefeated lightweight legend at 29-0, retired but remains deeply connected to the sport through coaching and management. The 37-year-old Russian was among the most dominant grapplers the UFC has seen, averaging 5.32 takedowns per fifteen minutes during his career.
Izagakhmaev, the 31-year-old Russian fighter trained at the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School, carries a 22-3 record and brings genuine credentials of his own, averaging four takedowns per fifteen minutes and landing strikes at a fifty-eight percent accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- The report suggests structural friction between fighter management networks and UFC matchmaking infrastructure
- Chimaev and Nurmagomedov's ability to influence signings through leadership channels, if true, points to unusual leverage held by high-profile figures
- Izagakhmaev versus Vagaev carries potential divisional weight depending on which weight class the bout is ultimately contested
