Ex-Umar Nurmagomedov rival signs with a new promotion after his highly criticized UFC release

TalkingPoints UFC UFC Events Schedule Results UFC 331 UFC 332 UFC 333 Boxing MMA Features Exclusives Throwbacks Follow us on '. Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC UFC Home Umar Nurmagomedov Ex-Umar Nurmagomedov rival signs with a new promotion after his highly criticized UFC release Harvey Leonard Tue 25 August 2026 19:00 Follow us on Google Discover Bekzat Almakhan has a new home after exiting the UFC.

The leading promotion in MMA has caused a stir in recent weeks and months with a number of questionable contractual decisions and roster cuts.

After Muhammad Mokaev was not re-signed in 2024 and a similar fate met Rinat Fakhretdinov the following year, there has been a string of strange removals from the UFC roster in 2026.