Zabit Magomedsharipov's Comeback Falls Apart as Injury Sidelines Him Before UFC Star Showdown

The Comeback That Wasn't

Zabit Magomedsharipov's long-awaited return to competition just hit another wall. The former UFC featherweight standout — who walked away from the sport in June 2022 with a perfect 6-0 record still in his prime — was supposed to finally step back into competition on July 5 at Absolute Championship Berkut Jiu-Jitsu 21 (ACBJJ 21) in Russia. His opponent: rising UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr., in a grappling/BJJ matchup that had fans buzzing for weeks.

But just days before fight night, Zabit announced on his Instagram Story that he's withdrawing due to injury. The 35-year-old hasn't specified what exactly happened, only that it's serious enough to scrap a comeback that took two weeks of buildup and years of anticipation to arrange.

Enter the Brother

Instead of scrapping the card entirely, Zabit's brother Khasan Magomedsharipov is stepping in as a short-notice replacement to face Rosas Jr. Red Corner MMA confirmed the swap, meaning fight fans still get action on the ACBJJ 21 card in Russia — just not the matchup they were promised.

It's a fascinating twist. Khasan doesn't carry the same name recognition in UFC circles as Zabit, but stepping in against a UFC roster fighter on short notice is no small ask. How he performs could shape whether this becomes a recurring storyline for the Magomedsharipov family in grappling circles.

Why This Keeps Happening

If this feels like déjà vu, that's because it is. Zabit's UFC career was repeatedly derailed by injuries and illness even at his peak. He pulled out of a scheduled 2018 matchup due to an undisclosed injury and had other fights scrapped for similar reasons before eventually retiring in 2022 despite being undefeated inside the Octagon.

That history makes this latest withdrawal sting a little less as a shock and a little more as a pattern. Zabit has always had elite skill — his UFC highlight reel remains one of the most creative in featherweight history — but his body has rarely cooperated long enough to let him build the kind of extended run his talent suggested he was capable of.

What Happens Next

For now, there's no word on when — or if — Zabit will reschedule his grappling return against Rosas Jr. or another opponent. Given his track record, fans should probably temper expectations rather than pencil in a firm date. The MMA and grappling world will be watching to see whether Khasan can hold his own on short notice, and whether Zabit's comeback saga gets another chapter down the road.