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Zabit Magomedsharipov is finally set to return to competition, giving combat sports fans a chance to see one of the most gifted fighters of his generation back in action. The former UFC featherweight contender will headline ACBJJ 22 against current UFC top ten featherweight Youssef Zalal in a no gi grappling match on August 30 at Ora Arena in Istanbul, Turkey.
Although it will not mark a return to mixed martial arts, the matchup has generated significant interest because it features two elite submission specialists with contrasting styles. It also marks Magomedsharipov’s first competitive appearance since his planned grappling debut against Raul Rosas Jr. was canceled after he withdrew with an undisclosed injury.
Zabit Magomedsharipov finally returns after injury setback
Magomedsharipov’s comeback has been highly anticipated ever since ACBJJ announced his matchup with Rosas earlier this year. The bout was expected to mark his first competitive outing since stepping away from professional MMA.
However, an injury forced the Russian star to withdraw from the event. His younger brother, Khasan Magomedsharipov, stepped in as a replacement but suffered a submission loss to Rosas.
Now fully recovered, Zabit will make his long awaited return against an even more experienced opponent.
The promotion officially announced the matchup on social media, confirming that Magomedsharipov and Zalal will headline ACBJJ 22 in a 70 kilogram grappling contest.
A dream matchup between elite grapplers
The matchup presents an intriguing stylistic battle.
The Biggest UFC What If Zabit Magomedsharipov Is Competing Again at ACBJJ 22 built his reputation as one of the most creative fighters to ever compete in the UFC featherweight division. During his six fight UFC run between 2017 and 2019, he defeated notable opponents including Jeremy Stephens, Calvin Kattar, Brandon Davis, Kyle Bochniak, Sheymon Moraes and Mike Santiago.
He retired from MMA with an impressive professional record of 18 wins and one loss while remaining unbeaten inside the UFC.
Health concerns and personal priorities ultimately led him to walk away from the sport during what many believed were his prime years. Even years later, he remains one of the biggest “what if” stories in UFC history.
Standing across from him will be Youssef Zalal, who enters the contest as one of the UFC’s top ranked featherweights. The Moroccan fighter enjoyed a remarkable resurgence that included an unbeaten stretch of nine UFC appearances before falling to former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in a main event earlier this year.
Zalal has earned a reputation as an outstanding submission specialist, recording ten professional MMA victories by submission. His dangerous ground game makes him a fitting opponent for Magomedsharipov’s long awaited return.
ACBJJ delivers another star studded event
ACBJJ has continued attracting elite names from mixed martial arts, and its latest card is no exception.
The co main event features former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad against former OKTAGON middleweight champion Kerim Engizek in another high profile grappling contest.
Muhammad enters the event after defeating former Bellator and ONE Championship star Ben Askren in a wrestling match earlier this year. Engizek, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back after consecutive MMA losses to Krzysztof Jotko ended his remarkable 17 fight winning streak.
The addition of Magomedsharipov and Zalal gives the event one of the strongest grappling lineups of the year.
Why Zabit Magomedsharipov remains one of MMA’s biggest mysteries
Despite retiring several years ago, Zabit Magomedsharipov continues to command attention whenever his name appears on a fight card.
The Russian was widely regarded as one of the most talented featherweights on the UFC roster. His unpredictable striking, spinning attacks and elite grappling made him one of the division’s most entertaining competitors.
His victory over Calvin Kattar at UFC Moscow in 2019 remains his final MMA appearance. Soon afterward, health related issues and personal ambitions led him to step away from the sport despite being viewed as a legitimate title contender.
Speaking previously about his retirement, Zabit Magomedsharipov has indicated that medical concerns played a major role in his decision to leave active MMA competition.
Even without returning to the UFC, his appearance at ACBJJ offers fans an opportunity to watch his world class grappling skills once again.
Quotes build anticipation for August 30
Confirming the matchup on social media, ACBJJ announced that “Zabit Magomedsharipov vs Youssef Zalal will headline ACBJJ 22”, officially setting one of the most anticipated grappling contests of the summer.
According to Brazilian journalist Leo Guimaraes, the event will feature an “all stars no gi grappling match”, bringing together two of the sport’s most accomplished submission specialists.
While Magomedsharipov has remained away from MMA competition, Zalal enters the event after competing at the highest level in the UFC, adding another fascinating layer to the contest.
An opportunity to remind the world
Whether or not Zabit Magomedsharipov ever returns to professional mixed martial arts remains uncertain. At 35 years old, his focus appears to be on select grappling appearances rather than another UFC run.
Still, his clash with Zalal represents far more than an exhibition. It is a chance for one of the sport’s most gifted talents to remind everyone why his name continues to surface whenever discussions turn to the greatest careers that ended too soon.
With elite technique on both sides and two accomplished submission artists sharing the mat, ACBJJ 22 has all the ingredients to deliver one of the year’s most compelling grappling main events.
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