Magomedrasul Gasanov was removed from his scheduled bout against Abubakar Vagaev after UFC took issue with a substance found in his system. According to his sparring partner Ikram Aliskerov, Gasanov submitted records of all supplements taken over the past six months and returned a clean test, but UFC flagged a particular substance that remains in the bloodstream for an extended period and cancelled the fight. Aliskerov compared the situation to past cases involving mildronate, arguing the substance is a minor compound that can linger long after use.
Magomedrasul Gasanov has been pulled from his scheduled UFC bout against Abubakar Vagaev after the promotion flagged a prohibited substance detected in his system, according to information shared publicly on June 24, 2026.
The details emerged through Ikram Aliskerov, Gasanov's sparring partner and teammate at KHK MMA. Aliskerov said Gasanov submitted a full record of every supplement he had taken over the prior six months and subsequently returned a clean test, but the UFC moved forward with cancelling the fight regardless. The issue, as described by Aliskerov, centres on a specific substance that can remain detectable in the bloodstream for a prolonged period well after use has stopped. He drew a comparison to previous cases involving mildronate, a cardiac drug that generated widespread controversy in combat sports when athletes tested positive long after discontinuing it, arguing the compound in question is similarly minor and slow to clear the body.
Aliskerov himself is a middleweight contender with an 18-2 record fighting out of Russia. The 33-year-old southpaw stands six feet tall with a 76-inch reach and has developed a reputation as one of the division's most aggressive strikers, landing 6.86 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 64 percent. He also contributes on the ground, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The cancellation leaves Vagaev without an opponent and disrupts the matchmaking calendar at 155 pounds.
- The case raises questions about how the UFC handles substances that have long biological half-lives, even when athletes can document supplement use.
- Aliskerov's public comments put a spotlight on the issue from inside Gasanov's own training camp, adding credibility to the explanation offered.
