Zabit Magomedsharipov ends three-year retirement with multi-fight RAF deal

Former UFC featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov has signed a multi-fight deal with Real American Freestyle and is set to make his promotional debut on November 14 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, according to his manager Ali Abdelaziz. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto first reported the signing.

“Zabit Magomedsharipov has signed a multi-fight deal with RAF, and will make his debut on the 11/14 card in Abu Dhabi, per Ali Abdelaziz,” Okamoto posted on X.

Abdelaziz had teased the news shortly before the announcement. “RAF just signed one of the most infamous fighters in UFC history, stay tuned,” he wrote on X. “Big news coming soon.”

Magomedsharipov was at the height of his career when he last competed in the UFC in 2019, going undefeated across seven octagon appearances and building a reputation as one of the most technically gifted featherweights in the world. He officially retired from MMA in 2022, citing a string of canceled bouts and health issues, before later pursuing a career in medicine.

The 35-year-old had been edging toward a competitive return before the RAF deal materialized. He was scheduled to compete in a grappling match against Raul Rosas Jr. at ACBJJ 21 in July but was forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury. He eventually made his comeback in August at ACBJJ 22, defeating Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision in a grappling contest — his first competitive outing in nearly seven years.

Magomedsharipov is widely regarded as one of MMA’s most tantalizing what-ifs, a fighter whose combination of striking creativity, grappling fluency, and unbeaten UFC record left fans and analysts wondering how far he might have gone had his career not been derailed. The RAF deal marks the most significant step yet in what appears to be a genuine return to full combat sports competition.