Former ABC featherweight champion and ex-UFC star Zabit Magomedsharipov will grapple Youssef Zalal later this month in the principle occasion of ACBJJ 22 in Istanbul.
Earlier this 12 months, Zabit was anticipated to face UFC fighter Raul Rosas Jr. in a grappling bout at one other ACBJJ occasion. Nonetheless, the matchup didn’t come to fruition.
Zabit Magomedsharipov is returning to competitors after greater than half a decade
Zabit Magomedsharipov is returning to competitors after a seven-year hiatus. The Russian fighter final competed in 2019 in opposition to Calvin Kattar and cruised to a unanimous choice win. Thereafter, in 2021, he was faraway from the official UFC rankings resulting from inactivity.
A 12 months later, Zabit determined to retire from the UFC due to extreme well being points, regardless of being on a six-fight successful streak within the promotion and boasting a powerful 18-1 skilled MMA file. He later revealed that he felt the promotion didn’t need him to be a champion, as at the moment the UFC already had many champions from Russia, and having a 3rd champ from the identical area wouldn’t be useful for the UFC.
Zabit additionally alleged that the UFC brass had promised him a title shot if one other struggle was cancelled, however didn’t honor the promise after his 2020 struggle in opposition to Yair Rodriguez was cancelled resulting from Rodriguez’s harm. All these causes compelled him to retire.
Zabit Magomedsharipov’s youthful brother, Khasan, beforehand revealed that Zabit is trying to compete in wrestling and grappling matches and is open to receiving provides.
Now the 35-year-old lastly has a date and an opponent. His ACBJJ 22 opponent, Youssef Zalal, is the No. 8-ranked featherweight contender who most just lately had his five-fight successful streak contained in the octagon snapped after shedding to former champion Aljamain Sterling.
Within the co-main occasion of the ACBJJ 22 card, former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad will face off in opposition to former OKTAGON MMA middleweight champion Kerim Engizek.
