Former UFC fighter Zabit Magomedsharipov has ruled out returning to mixed martial arts because of his age, choosing to focus on grappling instead.
The Russian athlete stated in comments published by Sports.ru that he does not plan to make an MMA comeback, though he intends to continue his sports career in submission grappling.
Magomedsharipov explained that he loves wrestling and grappling and plans to keep competing in the sport. He noted that while he feels too old to return to mixed martial arts, wrestling and grappling remain disciplines where he can still compete.
Addressing the current state of top competition in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he observed that the skill level among the organization top fighters is growing. However, Magomedsharipov added that he has also become physically stronger since his time in active fighting.
He reflected that during his active fighting career, he lacked sufficient physical strength. He added that if he were competing in mixed martial arts today, he believes his increased physical strength would make fighting easier for him than it was when he previously competed.
Magomedsharipov previously competed in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the premier global mixed martial arts promotion headquartered in the United States. Mixed martial arts is a full-contact combat sport that combines striking techniques with ground fighting. Known for his creative striking techniques and technical grappling abilities, the Dagestani fighter built a strong reputation in the 145-pound weight class before stepping away from active competition.
Grappling bout in Istanbul
Magomedsharipov is scheduled to return to action on August 30 in a grappling match against Youssef Zalal at an ACB JJ tournament in Istanbul.
ACB JJ, short for Absolute Championship Berkut Jiu-Jitsu, is an international sports organization that hosts professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling tournaments around the world. Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey, straddles the Bosphorus Strait between Europe and Asia and serves as a major international destination for sports events.
His opponent, Zalal, currently holds eighth place in the official UFC featherweight division rankings.
Zalal is an active contender in the UFC 145-pound division, where athletes compete under mixed martial arts rules. Submission grappling competitions, by contrast, focus entirely on clinching, positional control and submission holds on the mat, prohibiting all forms of punches, kicks and striking.
Undefeated UFC career record
Magomedsharipov last competed in mixed martial arts in 2019, when he fought Calvin Kattar in the UFC.
During his career in the promotion, the Russian athlete achieved an undefeated record of six wins and zero losses. His victories inside the UFC included wins over top featherweight competitors Kattar and Jeremy Stephens.
Kattar and Stephens are veteran American combat sports athletes who have anchored the UFC featherweight division over many years. Despite establishing himself as one of the most prominent featherweight contenders in the sport, Magomedsharipov stopped fighting in professional MMA after his 2019 appearance, leaving mixed martial arts fans speculating about a potential return until his recent comments.
