Saygid Izagakhmaev has been released from the UFC roster. The welterweight dropped consecutive decision losses, falling to Nicolas Dalby at a November event in Qatar and then to Abubakar Vagaev in July.
The UFC has parted ways with welterweight Saygid Izagakhmaev following consecutive decision defeats, the promotion confirming his release on September 16, 2026.
Izagakhmaev, 32, entered the UFC with considerable expectations. Training out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School in Russia, the six-foot, Orthodox-stance grappler carried a career record of 22-4-0 into his final stretch on the roster. His game was built around volume wrestling — averaging four takedowns per fifteen minutes — and a striking accuracy of 58 percent, though his output on the feet remained modest at 1.33 significant strikes landed per minute. Ultimately, the promotion's patience ran out after his second straight loss on the judges' scorecards.
The first defeat came at a November event in Qatar, where Nicolas Dalby handed him a decision. Dalby, the 41-year-old Dane nicknamed "Danish Dynamite" who fights out of Rumble Sports, carries a 24-6-1 record and has long been one of the division's more durable veterans. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 74-inch reach, Dalby averages 3.88 significant strikes per minute and connects at 43 percent accuracy. Izagakhmaev then suffered a second consecutive decision setback against Abubakar Vagaev this past July. Vagaev, also 33 and standing five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach, holds a 25-4-0 professional record.
Why it matters
- Izagakhmaev's release reflects the UFC's strict standards at 170 pounds, where roster depth is significant and back-to-back losses carry real consequences.
- His strong grappling credentials — four takedowns per fifteen minutes — will likely attract interest from other promotions.
- Both Dalby and Vagaev strengthen their cases for higher-profile welterweight assignments following the wins that contributed to Izagakhmaev's exit.
