Zabit Magomedsharipov claims the UFC did not want to make him champion because of the dominance of Russian fighters in the promotion. He stated that he wanted to fight but bouts were postponed three or four times and they could not reach an agreement. Zabit revealed there was an arrangement that if Yair Rodriguez pulled out a third time, he would automatically get a title shot, but the UFC found excuses again. They then offered him other opponents like Korean Zombie, but Zabit felt that at the time, he and Yair were the only real title contenders.
Zabit Magomedsharipov has gone on record claiming the UFC deliberately kept him from a featherweight title shot, alleging the promotion was uncomfortable with yet another Russian fighter holding a championship belt.
The 35-year-old Russian, who carries an 18-1-0 professional record, was widely considered one of the most dangerous contenders in the featherweight division before his extended absence from competition. Fighting out of Ricardo Almeida Jiu-Jitsu, Zabit is an orthodox striker who stands six-foot-one with a 73-inch reach. His UFC numbers back up the hype — he averaged 4.89 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also threatening consistently on the ground with 5.22 takedown attempts per 15 minutes.
Zabit stated that title fights were postponed three or four times and that no agreement could be reached with the promotion. He also revealed that a specific arrangement had been put in place: if Yair Rodriguez withdrew from a scheduled bout a third time, Zabit would be granted an automatic title shot. According to Zabit, the UFC found reasons to sidestep that agreement as well. The promotion then offered him alternative opponents, including the Korean Zombie, but Zabit maintained that he and Rodriguez were the only legitimate title contenders in the division at that point.
Rodriguez, now ranked third in the featherweight division at 33 years old, holds a 21-6-0 record. The Mexican fighter, known as El Pantera, trains out of Valle Flow Striking and brings a similarly high-output striking style, averaging 4.65 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Zabit's claims raise questions about how the UFC manages title contention in talent-heavy regions
- With Rodriguez currently ranked third at featherweight, the long-delayed matchup between the two remains unresolved
- Both fighters share high-volume striking profiles, making any potential meeting a compelling stylistic clash
- The featherweight division's title picture could be directly affected if Zabit pursues a return to competition
