Magomedrasul Gasanov was removed from his scheduled UFC fight against Abubakar Vagaev after a substance in his medical history raised concerns with the promotion. According to Gasanov's sparring partner Ikram Aliskerov, Gasanov submitted records of all compounds he had used over the past six months, passed a drug test, and registered clean results, but the UFC identified one substance it deemed problematic and asked him to retest before ultimately pulling the bout. Aliskerov compared the situation to historic mildronate cases, noting the compound can remain in the body for extended periods even after discontinued use.
Magomedrasul Gasanov has been pulled from his scheduled UFC bout against Abubakar Vagaev after the promotion raised concerns over a substance identified in his medical history, according to a report that surfaced on June 24, 2026.
The situation was described publicly by Ikram Aliskerov, Gasanov's sparring partner and a KHK MMA teammate. Aliskerov said Gasanov had voluntarily submitted records of every compound he used over the preceding six months, completed a drug test, and returned clean results. Despite that, the UFC singled out one substance it considered problematic and requested a retest before ultimately deciding to remove him from the fight altogether. Aliskerov drew a parallel to cases involving mildronate, a cardiac drug that gained notoriety in anti-doping circles after tests revealed it can linger in the body for prolonged periods well beyond when a user stops taking it.
Aliskerov himself is a middleweight contender operating out of Russia with an 18-2 professional record. The 33-year-old stands six feet tall with a 76-inch reach and fights out of a southpaw stance. His striking numbers inside the cage are among the most imposing in his division, averaging 6.86 significant strikes per minute at a 64 percent accuracy rate. He also contributes on the ground with 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Gasanov's removal leaves Vagaev without an opponent, creating a potential hole on the event's card.
- The substance in question has not been publicly named, and no formal anti-doping violation has been announced, leaving Gasanov's status in a grey area.
- The mildronate comparison raised by Aliskerov points to a broader issue in anti-doping policy around compounds with long detection windows.
- The outcome could affect Gasanov's near-term UFC standing depending on how the UFC and relevant testing authorities choose to proceed.
