Zabit
Magomedsharipov wants to rebook a grappling match against
Raul
Rosas Jr.
Magomedsharipov was originally scheduled to face Rosas in a
grappling match under the ACBJJ banner in July in Moscow. However,
he was forced out with an injury and replaced on short notice by
his brother, Khasan
Magomedsharipov. Rosas took a little over five minutes to make
Khasan tap to a rear-naked choke.
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Why Zabit Magomedsharipov wants a grappling match with Raul
Rosas Jr.
Zabit recently acknowledged Rosas’ elite grappling skills. However,
he believes jet lag and weight cutting contributed to his brother’s
loss. Zabit wants to test himself against the
Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight. While the Russian
considers himself physically stronger, he believes “El Nino
Problema” could make it an exciting matchup with pure
technique.
Rosas also recently submitted Colby
Covington with a rear-naked choke at Hype FC. Zabit believes
Covington underestimated the 22-year-old.
“He’s a good grappler,” Zabit told Red Corner MMA. “I can tell he
is good at taking the back. It would be exciting to have a
grappling match with him. When we had a face-off in Moscow, I felt
he wasn’t that strong. But he has the grappling skills. I think it
would be an interesting bout. Khasan was a bit jetlagged after a
flight. I think the weight cut and everything affected him. [Rosas]
is not that athletic. But he is very skilled; he knows wrestling
and he is good at taking the back and catching the neck, like he
did with Khasan… I believe I’m stronger in terms of raw power. But
in terms of pure skills, it would be an interesting matchup.
[Colby] underestimated him. You can’t expose your back so
easily.”
Zabit recently returned to active competition after nearly seven
years. The former UFC featherweight defeated Youssef
Zalal via unanimous decision in a grappling match at ACBJJ in
August. He has signed a multi-match deal with Real American
Freestyle and is scheduled to make his RAF debut against Giga
Chikadze on Nov. 14 in Abu Dhabi.
Zabit
Magomedsharipov has his sights set on Raul Rosas
Jr. after being forced to withdraw from their scheduled matchup
at ACBJJ this July, which ultimately saw his brother, Khasan, step
in as his replacement. Rosas went on to defeat Khasan
Magomedsharipov in the first round via rear-naked choke. “I
believe I am stronger in terms of raw power, but in terms of pure
skills, it would be an interesting matchup,” Zabit told Red Corner
MMA. Last week, Rosas also defeated Colby
Covington in the first round via rear-naked choke. “[Colby
Covington] underestimated him. You can’t expose your back so
easily,” Zabit added. Zabit himself is set to compete in freestyle
wrestling against Giga
Chikadze at the RAF event in Abu Dhabi on November 14.— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
November 8, 2026