Magomed Zaynukov Ruled Out of UFC Qatar With Injury, Won't Fight Until 2027

Magomed "John Pork" Zaynukov has confirmed he underwent surgery and will be sidelined for the rest of 2026, ruling himself out of a rumored appearance at UFC Qatar in November and pushing his return to sometime next year.

The 31-year-old Dagestani lightweight, who carries an unblemished 9-0 record, made his UFC debut in July with a win over Damian Rzepecki and quickly drew attention as one of the promotion's more intriguing new arrivals. Standing five-foot-ten with a 68-inch reach, Zaynukov fights out of an orthodox stance and has shown an exceptional ability to output strikes at volume, landing 15.67 significant strikes per minute at a 60 percent accuracy rate — numbers that stand out sharply even at the highest level of the sport. He also averages two takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded threat profile.

Zaynukov addressed reports linking him to a proposed matchup with Manoel "Manumito" Santos on the November card, stating clearly that no contract had been signed for that bout. He is currently in rehabilitation following the operation and expects to return to competition in 2027.

His July opponent, Damian Rzepecki, is a 24-year-old Polish prospect fighting out of Top Fit Center Piotrków Trybunalski. Rzepecki arrived at that debut carrying a 10-1 record — an indication of how the UFC was matching Zaynukov against credible opposition right from the start.

Why it matters

• Zaynukov's 9-0 record and standout striking output had generated significant buzz in the lightweight division following his debut.
• His confirmed absence removes him from the UFC Qatar card and delays any formal ranking climb until 2027.
• The Santos matchup, which had been circulating as a potential next step, is now officially off the table for the foreseeable future.