Magomedrasul Gasanov was removed from his scheduled fight against Abubakar Vagaev after UFC flagged a substance in his drug-testing results. According to sparring partner Ikram Aliskerov, Gasanov tested clean and had not used the substance recently, but the compound — likened to the mildronate cases that affected other fighters — lingers in the body for an extended period, prompting UFC to order re-testing and ultimately cancel the bout.
Magomedrasul Gasanov has been pulled from his scheduled UFC bout against Abubakar Vagaev after a banned substance was detected in his drug-testing results, the organization confirmed ahead of the June 24 card.
According to Ikram Aliskerov, Gasanov's sparring partner, the fighter had not knowingly used the substance in question. Aliskerov drew a comparison to the mildronate cases that have previously ensnared other combat sports athletes, noting that certain compounds of that nature can remain detectable in the body long after use has ceased. Despite Gasanov reportedly testing clean in subsequent checks, the UFC ordered re-testing and ultimately removed him from the matchup entirely.
Aliskerov, who provided the account of events, is a 33-year-old Russian middleweight fighting out of KHK MMA. He carries an 18-2-0 professional record and is considered one of the more dangerous finishers in his division, averaging an impressive 6.86 significant strikes landed per minute at 64 percent accuracy. The southpaw stands six feet tall with a 76-inch reach and also adds a takedown threat, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Gasanov's removal leaves Vagaev without an opponent, creating a scheduling gap that the UFC will need to address.
- The mildronate comparison raises questions about how lingering-substance cases are handled under UFC anti-doping protocols, particularly when re-testing produces a clean result.
- The situation highlights the ongoing complexity of anti-doping enforcement in MMA, where detection windows can outlast the period of actual use.
