Movsar Evloev made a tongue-in-cheek prediction about what would have happened if he had fought Zabit Magomedsharipov while the latter was still in the UFC. The post asked followers who would have won if both fighters were in their prime condition. The question appears hypothetical as Magomedsharipov retired from the UFC and never faced Evloev. No details were provided about Evloev's actual prediction or the context in which he made it. Both are Dagestani featherweights who were rising contenders during overlapping periods in the UFC.
Movsar Evloev offered a tongue-in-cheek take on a fight that never happened, responding to a hypothetical question about how a bout between himself and fellow Dagestani featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov would have played out if both men had met in their prime.
The post posed the question to followers, inviting speculation on a matchup that the UFC never got around to booking. Magomedsharipov departed the promotion without ever crossing paths with Evloev inside the octagon, leaving the debate strictly in the realm of what-if.
Evloev, now 32, enters the conversation as arguably the division's most compelling unbeaten fighter. The American Top Team product carries a perfect 20-0-0 record and currently holds the number-one featherweight ranking. He averages 3.91 significant strikes per minute and a notably busy 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes, a combination that has made him nearly impossible to finish or outpoint.
Magomedsharipov, also Russian and Dagestani, retired with an 18-1-0 record and a reputation as one of the most dynamic talents the 145-pound division had seen in years. Standing six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach, he posted even sharper numbers during his UFC tenure — 4.89 significant strikes per minute, a 48 percent striking accuracy, and 5.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. His submission threat was also more pronounced, averaging 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes compared to Evloev's 0.2.
Why it matters
- Both fighters were ascending featherweight contenders during overlapping UFC tenures, yet never met
- Evloev is currently the top-ranked featherweight contender, giving the hypothetical added weight
- The stylistic overlap is striking — both are orthodox Dagestani wrestlers with high striking output and similar accuracy, making any comparison genuinely difficult to resolve
