Former UFC featherweight contender Zabit Magomedsharipov will soon compete under grappling rules at an ACB JJ tournament. The event, ACB JJ 21, is scheduled for July 5 in Moscow. This marks a shift for Magomedsharipov, who has been inactive in MMA competition for several years. The announcement was made through the league's official channel. No opponent or additional details about the grappling match have been disclosed at this time.
Zabit Magomedsharipov is set to return to competition under grappling rules, with the former UFC featherweight contender confirmed to appear at ACB JJ 21 in Moscow on July 5. The announcement came through the league's official channel, though no opponent or further match details have been revealed.
Magomedsharipov, 35, enters the grappling event carrying an 18-1-0 professional MMA record built during a run that once made him one of the most talked-about prospects in the featherweight division. The Russian fighter stands six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach and trains out of Ricardo Almeida Jiu-Jitsu. During his MMA career he averaged 5.22 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a striking output of 4.89 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, numbers that reflected a genuinely well-rounded game. He has been away from MMA competition for several years, making this ACB JJ appearance his most notable competitive outing in some time.
Why it matters
- Magomedsharipov's return to any form of competition ends a prolonged period of inactivity and raises questions about a potential MMA comeback.
- Competing under submission grappling rules will put his ground skills, honed at Ricardo Almeida Jiu-Jitsu, on direct display without the striking element he was also known for.
- ACB JJ 21 gives fans a first look at where his game stands after years out of the spotlight.
