TLDR
- Abubakar Nurmagomedov pulled out of his PFL Dubai fight against David Martinez six days before the November 14 event
- Saygid Izagakhmaev will replace Nurmagomedov as Martinez’s opponent, saving the bout
- The withdrawal extends Nurmagomedov’s absence from MMA to over three years since his last fight in June 2023
- This is the third time Nurmagomedov has withdrawn from a scheduled fight due to undisclosed reasons
- Nurmagomedov is best known for his involvement in the infamous post-fight brawl at UFC 229 in 2018
Sources: yardbarker.com | essentiallysports.com | fightnewsaustralia.com
Abubakar Nurmagomedov has withdrawn from his scheduled fight at PFL Dubai just six days before the November 14 event. The cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov was set to face David Martinez in a welterweight bout that would have ended his three-year absence from MMA competition.
Saygid Izagakhmaev, recently released from the UFC, will replace Nurmagomedov and fight Martinez instead. The reason for Nurmagomedov’s withdrawal has not been disclosed.
The 36-year-old fighter last competed in June 2023, losing to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos by split decision. The UFC released him following that defeat.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov says he wants to face the biggest names in freestyle wrestling in super fights, while also looking to put the sport back on the map and remind people about the beauty of freestyle wrestling.
“Arman? No… I want Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Dauren Kurugliev, or… pic.twitter.com/97mUE2c0jv
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) September 21, 2026
A Pattern of Withdrawals
This marks the third time Nurmagomedov has pulled out of a scheduled fight. In July 2021, he withdrew from a bout against Daniel Rodriguez at UFC on ESPN 26 due to injury.
He also pulled out of a fight against Carlston Harris at UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Dvalishvili because of a severe recurring illness. The pattern of withdrawals has become a concern for the Dagestani fighter’s career.
After leaving the UFC, Nurmagomedov signed with Global Fight League in 2024 to face Louis Glismann in May 2025. The promotion collapsed before he could compete.
He signed with PFL in September 2026, giving him another chance to return to competition. The PFL Dubai event was scheduled to compete directly with UFC 334 on the same date.
The UFC 229 Brawl
Nurmagomedov remains best known for his role in the post-fight brawl at UFC 229 in October 2018. After Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor in the fourth round, chaos erupted at the T-Mobile Arena.
Khabib jumped over the cage to confront McGregor’s cornerman Dillon Danis, who had been shouting insults. Members of Khabib’s team, including Abubakar, entered the cage and clashed with McGregor.
Viral footage from that night shows McGregor punching Abubakar Nurmagomedov in the face. Abubakar later posted a video showing his facial injuries and admitted to exchanging punches with the Irish fighter.
“In short, I climbed onto the cage,” Abubakar said in the video. “That f—ing Irish b—h hit me. But I landed a few as well.”
The incident remains one of the most chaotic moments in UFC history. October 6, 2026, marked eight years since the brawl occurred.
Martinez, known as “The Smiling Assassin,” made his PFL debut on April 16, 2026, at PFL Belfast. The 33-year-old won that fight by rear naked choke in the second round.
Izagakhmaev’s most recent fight was a unanimous decision loss to Abubakar Vagaev on July 25, 2026. He previously competed in ONE Championship in 2022, winning all three of his fights.
Both Izagakhmaev and Nurmagomedov share a combat sambo background, though each fighter has different strengths. Martinez now has just days to prepare for his new opponent at the PFL Dubai event.
The event will air on Stan Sport in Australia and Sky Sport in New Zealand. Jacinta Austin will also compete on the card against Aleksandra Savicheva in a strawweight bout.
