Zabit Magomedsharipov is set to face Raul Rosas Jr. in a grappling match at ACBJJ on July 5th. The bout marks Zabit's first competitive appearance since his last UFC fight in 2019.
Zabit Magomedsharipov is set to make his long-awaited return to competition against Raul Rosas Jr. in a grappling match at ACBJJ on July 5, ending a competitive absence stretching back to his final UFC appearance in 2019.
Magomedsharipov, 35, carries an 18-1 professional MMA record and was widely regarded as one of the most dynamic featherweights in the world before stepping away from competition. The Russian standout, now training out of Ricardo Almeida Jiu-Jitsu, brought a rare combination of striking and wrestling to the cage, averaging 5.22 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.89 significant strikes landed per minute during his UFC run. His return to the mat at ACBJJ represents his first appearance on any competitive stage in roughly seven years.
Across from him will be Rosas Jr., the 21-year-old American known as "El Nino Problema" and a product of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Las Vegas. Still early in what already looks like a promising career, Rosas holds a 12-1 MMA record and has demonstrated a submission-heavy approach, averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes in his UFC bouts. At five-foot-nine with a 67-inch reach, he gives up notable physical ground to the six-foot-one Magomedsharipov, who carries a 73-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Magomedsharipov's return generates significant interest given his cult following from his unbeaten UFC run before his absence
- The grappling format puts both fighters' ground games front and center, testing Rosas on a pure submission stage against a seasoned opponent
- A strong showing could renew conversations about Magomedsharipov's future in MMA at featherweight, a division that has shifted considerably since 2019
