Abubakar Nurmagomedov is set to return to competition for the first time in three years, booking a wrestling rematch against David Zawada under the AIGA grappling series in Turkey. The two former UFC fighters will meet in an 84-kilogram bout at the ORA Arena in Istanbul. Nurmagomedov went 2-2 during his UFC tenure, with his last octagon appearance coming in a split decision loss to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in 2024, while Zawada submitted him in the first round at UFC Moscow back in 2019.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov is reportedly set to end a three-year absence from competition by facing David Zawada in a grappling rematch under the AIGA series in Istanbul, with the 84-kilogram bout expected to take place at the ORA Arena in Turkey. The matchup has not been officially confirmed, but reports indicate both former UFC fighters are booked for the occasion.
Nurmagomedov, 36, carries a professional MMA record of 17-4-1 and represents Russia out of Fightspirit Team. The six-foot orthodox welterweight stands 180 centimeters tall with a 183-centimeter reach. During his time in the UFC he went 2-2, with his final octagon outing ending in a split decision loss to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in 2024. He lands significant strikes at a rate of 2.78 per minute with a respectable 53 percent striking accuracy, and averages 1.25 takedowns per fifteen minutes.
Zawada, also 36, trains out of UFD Gym and competes under the German flag with a 17-7-0 record. Nicknamed "Sagat," the six-foot orthodox fighter carries a 191-centimeter reach and puts up a higher volume of striking than his opponent, landing 3.84 significant strikes per minute, though at a lower accuracy of 41 percent. His grappling credentials are significant on the submission side, averaging 1.7 submission attempts per fifteen minutes — a figure that speaks directly to the outcome that sets this rematch in motion. It was Zawada who submitted Nurmagomedov in the first round at UFC Moscow in 2019.
Why it matters
- Nurmagomedov has been inactive for roughly three years, making this a notable comeback regardless of format
- The grappling context gives the rematch immediate storyline weight, with Zawada having finished the first meeting by submission
- Both men are competing outside the UFC, giving the AIGA series a recognizable matchup with genuine history attached
- At 84 kilograms, the weight class sits between MMA's welterweight and middleweight divisions, adding a neutral-ground dynamic to the contest
