Prized welterweight prospect Abubakar Vagaev makes his Octagon debut Saturday night, taking on Saygid Izagakhmaev at UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov in Abu Dhabi.
Vagaev (24–4, 0–0 UFC) hasn’t competed since February 2025, when he recaptured the ACA welterweight title against Albert Tumenov. Izagakhmaev (22–3, 0–1 UFC) aims to rebound after dropping a split decision to Nicolas Dalby in his promotional debut last November.
Vagaev enters as a -250 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Izagakhmaev is a +205 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Vagaev vs. Izagakhmaev Preview
Abubakar Vagaev
- 24–4 (0–0 UFC)
- 4–3 (T)KO
- 1–0 SUB
Acclaimed prospect Abubakar Vagaev arrives in the UFC with the help of some high praise from his training partner, former middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
The Chechnya-born contender, 33, is a former two-time ACA welterweight champion. He employs a well-rounded attack — blending striking with frequent level changes — to tee up his dominant ground game. While not much of a stoppage threat, Vagaev has won eight of his last nine bouts and enters Saturday on a three-fight surge — punctuated by a championship win over Albert Tumenov.
There’s just one problem: that was well over a year ago. The hype is real for Vagaev, but he heads into his UFC debut with a lot to prove after such an extended layoff.
Saygid Izagakhmaev
- 22–3 (0–1 UFC)
- 3–0 (T)KO
- 13–1 SUB
Khabib Nurmagomedov once predicted that his teammate and mentee, Saygid Izagakhmaev, would become the “best” MMA fighter “in the world.” In his first taste of UFC action, the Russian prospect fell well short of expectations.
Izagakhmaev, 31, is eager to bounce back after dropping a split decision to Nicolas Dalby in his November 2025 promotional debut. While he flashed his elite Dagestani grappling, Izagakhmaev appeared drained and struggled to weather Dalby’s relentless clinch pressure. It certainly didn’t help that it was his first competitive bout in three years.
Back in the routine and hungry to rebound, Izagakhmaev will be looking to take the fight to the ground as soon as possible, where he can unleash his suffocating top pressure and lethal submission game.
Vagaev vs. Izagakhmaev Pick, Best Bet
Saturday’s welterweight showdown makes for an intriguing clash of styles between Russian grapplers. Vagaev’s well-rounded skillset gives him an advantage on the feet, while Izagakhmaev should have a clear edge on the ground. It’ll likely boil down to which fighter can impose their will and dictate where the fight ends up.
That said, it’s unlikely that either of them gets the job done inside the distance. Only five of Vagaev’s 24 wins have come by stoppage. And while he’s been knocked out multiple times in his career, he’s never been submitted — which would realistically be Izagakhmaev’s only route to securing a finish.
With both coming off decisions and recent layoffs, expect to see more scorecards on Saturday night.
