Magomedrasul Gasanov was removed from his scheduled UFC bout against Abubakar Vagaev after a substance in his system was flagged by the promotion. Gasanov's sparring partner Ikram Aliskerov explained that Gasanov had submitted records of all compounds taken over the past six months and passed a drug test, but the UFC identified a long-lasting banned substance and ordered him to retest before ultimately cancelling the fight. Aliskerov compared the situation to cases involving mildronate, saying such compounds can remain detectable in the body for extended periods and were historically given routinely in national sports programs.
Magomedrasul Gasanov has been pulled from a scheduled UFC fight against Abubakar Vagaev after the promotion flagged a banned substance detected in his system.
According to Gasanov's sparring partner Ikram Aliskerov, Gasanov had submitted documentation covering all compounds he had taken over the previous six months and had passed a drug test. Despite that, the UFC identified a long-lasting banned substance and instructed him to retest before ultimately cancelling the bout entirely.
Aliskerov drew a comparison to cases involving mildronate, noting that certain performance-related compounds can remain detectable in the body for extended periods and were historically administered as a matter of routine within national sports programs. His remarks suggest the positive flag may reflect a legacy substance rather than current intentional use, though no official determination has been made public.
Aliskerov, who publicly addressed the situation on Gasanov's behalf, is a 33-year-old middleweight fighting out of Russia under the KHK MMA banner. He 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 64 percent accuracy rate. He also adds a wrestling dimension, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The cancellation leaves Vagaev without an opponent and disrupts the card's planning.
- The case raises questions about legacy substances from Soviet-era and post-Soviet sports programs and how long they remain detectable under current anti-doping protocols.
- No formal ruling or sanction from the UFC or an anti-doping body has been announced, meaning Gasanov's competitive future remains unclear until testing is resolved.
