Zabit Magomedsharipov Beats UFC Featherweight In Return

Zabit Magomedsharipov won his first competition in seven years Saturday, outpointing UFC featherweight Youssef Zalal in a grappling match at ACBJJ 22 in Istanbul.

The Russian, who retired from MMA in 2022 after his career stalled following a 2019 win over Calvin Kattar, took a unanimous decision in what Sherdog described as a competitive bout. Zalal appeared frustrated with the scorecards after finishing strong, though Magomedsharipov also had his moments throughout the match.

What Magomedsharipov Said About His MMA Career

Magomedsharipov addressed his decision to walk away from the sport ahead of the grappling match. "I have no regrets about leaving the sport and not winning anything," he told Red Corner MMA. "Of course, I wanted to become UFC champion, but it fell through. They didn't let me. They were stalling for time. They didn't let me fight."

The 31-year-old was originally scheduled to face Raul Rosas Jr. at ACBJJ 21 last month but pulled out with an injury. Magomedsharipov compiled an 18-1 record and earned a reputation for flashy striking and scrambles during his UFC run, but a series of canceled bouts kept him sidelined before he formally retired.

Magomedsharipov has not announced plans to compete again in either grappling or MMA.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Zabit Magomedsharipov returns after 7 years, beats UFC featherweight