Zabit Magomedsharipov Signs With RAF for Combat Sports Return
Zabit Magomedsharipov signed a multi-fight deal with Real American Freestyle for a Nov. 14 debut.
One of MMA's biggest what-ifs is coming back. Zabit Magomedsharipov has signed a multi-fight deal with Real American Freestyle and will make his promotional debut at RAF Abu Dhabi on November 14 at Etihad Arena, per Sherdog. MMA Mania reports Zabit will face UFC veteran Giga Chikadze in the bout.
His manager Ali Abdelaziz confirmed the signing: "Just signed one of the most infamous fighters in UFC history, stay tuned. Big news coming soon."
Magomedsharipov, now 35, last competed in the UFC in 2019, where he went 6-0 with the promotion and was widely considered one of the most talented featherweights on the planet. He officially retired from MMA in 2022, citing canceled fights and health complications, and pursued a career in medicine.
The Russian showed signs of a competitive return earlier this year. He was scheduled for a grappling match against Raul Rosas Jr. in July but withdrew due to injury. He then defeated Youssef Zalal via unanimous decision in a grappling bout at ACBJJ 22 in August.
Now he joins a stacked RAF Abu Dhabi card that already features Khamzat Chimaev vs. Colby Covington for the cruiserweight crossover title and Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Urijah Faber.
Zabit was the guy who made you lean forward on the couch every time he fought. The spinning attacks, the creativity, the cardio questions that made every fight a puzzle. Then he just vanished. Went to medical school. Left everyone wondering what could have been if he had gotten a title shot at 145.
Now he is back at 35 in RAF, and they matched him with Giga Chikadze, another dynamic striker who left the UFC. That is a smart debut. It is not a gimme and it is not a death sentence.
I am not going to pretend Zabit at 35 after years away is the same fighter. But this card in Abu Dhabi is absolutely stacked, and having Zabit on it might be the most intriguing booking of the bunch.
