Magomedrasul Gasanov was removed from his scheduled bout against Abubakar Vagaev after UFC flagged a substance detected in his testing, according to his sparring partner Ikram Aliskerov. Aliskerov said Gasanov had submitted records of all supplements taken over the past six months and believes the issue stems from a long-metabolizing compound rather than intentional doping, drawing a comparison to past meldonium cases. Gasanov himself reportedly returned a clean test, but the UFC required further retesting before ultimately pulling him from the card.
Magomedrasul Gasanov has been pulled from his scheduled UFC bout against Abubakar Vagaev after the promotion flagged a substance detected in his testing, with the news surfacing on June 24, 2026.
The removal was disclosed publicly by Gasanov's sparring partner Ikram Aliskerov, who said Gasanov had provided records of every supplement he had consumed over the preceding six months. Aliskerov suggested the issue likely stems from a long-metabolizing compound rather than any deliberate doping violation, drawing a parallel to past cases involving meldonium, a substance that became notorious for lingering in athletes' systems well beyond the period of use. Aliskerov added that Gasanov himself subsequently returned a clean test, but the UFC pressed ahead with further retesting before ultimately deciding to remove him from the card.
Aliskerov, who trains alongside Gasanov at KHK MMA, is himself a notable figure in the middleweight division. The 33-year-old Russian carries an 18-2 professional record and is regarded as one of the division's more dangerous strikers, landing 6.86 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 64 percent. Standing six feet tall with a 76-inch reach, the southpaw also adds a wrestling threat, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Gasanov's removal leaves Vagaev without an opponent, with no replacement fight announced.
- The situation raises questions about the UFC's supplement-testing protocols and how long-metabolizing compounds are adjudicated.
- Aliskerov's public account frames the incident as a potential procedural issue rather than a conventional doping violation, though no official determination has been confirmed.
