Hamzat Chimaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov separately brokered the UFC signings of fighters Vagaev and Gasanov by going directly to organization bosses, bypassing the matchmaking team entirely. In apparent retaliation, matchmakers initially paired Vagaev and Gasanov against each other before pulling Gasanov from the bout, citing a failure to complete doping testing in time. Vagaev was then told the only available slot for him was at welterweight against Saygid Izagakhmaev, a matchup that also serves the matchmakers' interests by guaranteeing Izagakhmaev a difficult fight regardless of the outcome.
Reports suggest that internal tensions erupted between UFC matchmakers and two of the sport's most influential figures — Khamzat Chimaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov — over the signings of fighters identified as Vagaev and Gasanov, with the dispute allegedly spilling into matchmaking decisions that followed.
According to the unconfirmed report, both Chimaev and Nurmagomedov separately went above the matchmaking team's heads, dealing directly with organization bosses to secure roster spots for the two fighters. That move is said to have angered the matchmakers, who reportedly responded by initially slotting Vagaev and Gasanov against one another. Gasanov was then pulled from that proposed bout, with a failure to complete doping testing cited as the official reason. Vagaev was subsequently informed that the only available opportunity for him was a welterweight assignment against Saygid Izagakhmaev — a pairing the report characterizes as also benefiting the matchmakers, since Izagakhmaev is framed as a difficult test for any newcomer regardless of result.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, the undefeated 29-0 retired lightweight legend and now a prominent managerial and coaching figure, has long held considerable sway in Dagestani MMA circles. The 37-year-old Russian trained out of Fightspirit Team during his career and posted elite grappling numbers, averaging 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Izagakhmaev, a 31-year-old Russian fighting out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School, carries a 22-3 record and brings notable physical tools to the welterweight division, including a 74-inch reach and a striking accuracy rate of 58 percent. He averages 4 takedowns per 15 minutes, suggesting a grappling-heavy approach that would test any opponent placed across from him on short notice.
Why it matters
- The report points to a rare and significant friction between influential fighter-side figures and UFC's internal matchmaking structure.
- If accurate, it raises questions about how roster decisions are being made and who ultimately controls fight assignments.
- Izagakhmaev receives a high-profile opportunity regardless of the circumstances surrounding his opponent's arrival.
- The situation remains unconfirmed and should be treated as a developing report until officially addressed by any of the parties involved.
