Abubakar Nurmagomedov Returns After Three-Year Layoff

Abubakar Nurmagomedov will return to competition after three years away from the cage.

The former UFC welterweight faces David Zawada in an 84-kilogram wrestling match under the AIGA banner Sept. 20 at ORA Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, Sherdog reports. The bout is part of the Global Grappling Series 2026 and represents a rematch from their 2019 Octagon meeting, when Zawada caught Nurmagomedov in a first-round triangle choke at UFC Moscow.

Zawada Looking To Repeat 2019 Result

Nurmagomedov went 2-2 in the UFC before his last MMA appearance in June 2023, a split-decision loss to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos. Zawada posted a 1-4 record in the promotion, with his lone victory coming against the Dagestani cousin of retired lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. The German veteran has since fought for Oktagon MMA, the Professional Fighters League and KSW.

Zawada dropped his most recent MMA bout Aug. 1, falling to David Kozma under the Oktagon banner. The switch to grappling marks a departure for both fighters, who built their careers in mixed martial arts before testing themselves in the submission-only format.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Khabib Nurmagomedov's cousin returns to combat sports 3 years after last fight