Zabit
Magomedsharipov is set to make his first competitive combat
sports appearance in nearly seven years.
The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight takes on Youssef
Zalal in the main event of ACBJJ 22 on Aug. 30 in Istanbul,
Turkey. Kerim
Engizek and Belal
Muhammad will also be a part of the grappling event.
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Zabit Magomedsharipov returns after UFC run ended in 2019
The ACBJJ 22 main event will pit Magomedsharipov against Zalal, an
active 145-pound contender in the UFC. This marks his first
competitive outing since his last Octagon appearance, which came in
2019 against Calvin
Kattar.
The Russian enjoyed an impressive run in the Octagon between 2017
and 2019, emerging as a fan favorite thanks to his flashy striking
and memorable finishes. However, after a bout against Yair
Rodriguez fell through, Magomedsharipov stepped away from the
sport. He was previously scheduled to face Raul Rosas
Jr. in a grappling match in July but withdrew because of an
undisclosed injury.
Meanwhile, Zalal’s strong second stint in the UFC came to an end at
the hands of former champ Aljamain
Sterling in April. “The Moroccan Devil” was riding an
eight-fight win streak before losing to Sterling.