Zabit Magomedsharipov

Zabit Akhmedovich Magomedsharipov (; born March 1, 1991) is a Russian former professional mixed martial artist. He competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB), where he was the ACB Featherweight Champion.

Background Magomedsharipov was born in Khasavyurt, Dagestan ASSR, Soviet Union, on March 1, 1991, of Akhvakh ethnicity. Zabit has a younger brother, Khasan Magomedsharipov, who is also a professional mixed martial artist. He started to train in freestyle wrestling at 11 years and then sanda. In 2003, he joined the Five Directions of the World wushu boarding school, where he lived for 10 to 12 years for education and trained martial arts three times per day, under Gusein Magomaev, the school's co-founder. In 2012, he made his professional MMA debut. In December 2019, his brother followed in his footsteps by making his professional MMA debut. Magomedsharipov became well known during a period where fighters from Dagestan earned a reputation as formidable opponents in the UFC.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Magomedsharipov fought in a handful of different promotions early in his career, amassing a professional record of 6-1 before signing with ACB.

Absolute Championship Berkut Magomedsharipov went 6–0 in the ACB and was featherweight champion.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Magomedsharipov signed a four-fight deal with the UFC in May 2017.

Magomedsharipov was expected to face Nick Hein on September 2, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Struve vs. Volkov. However, Hein pulled out of the fight on August 21 and was replaced by Mike Santiago. Magomedsharipov won the fight via submission with a rear-naked choke in the second round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.

Magomedsharipov faced promotional newcomer Sheymon Moraes on November 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum. He won the fight via submission in the third round. The win also earned Magomedsharipov his second Performance of the Night bonus award.

Magomedsharipov faced Kyle Bochniak on April 7, 2018, at UFC 223. He won the fight by unanimous decision. This win again earned him a Fight of the Night bonus. Shortly after the bout, Magomedsharipov signed a new multi-fight contract with UFC.

Magomedsharipov was expected to fight Yair Rodríguez on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228. However, Rodríguez pulled out of the fight on August 23 and was replaced by Brandon Davis. Magomedsharipov won the fight via submission in the second round with a modified kneebar.

Magomedsharipov faced Jeremy Stephens on March 2, 2019, at UFC 235. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Magomedsharipov was expected to face Calvin Kattar on October 18, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 6. However, Magomedsharipov was removed from the card due to injury on September 13 and the pairing was rescheduled for the following month at UFC on ESPN+ 21. He won the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Magomedsharipov was scheduled to face Yair Rodríguez on August 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 175. However, Rodríguez pulled out with an ankle injury.

On April 26, 2021, Magomedsharipov was removed from the UFC official rankings due to inactivity. At the time of removal he was ranked #3. In early June 2021, it was reported that Magomedsharipov was suffering from health issues related to his immune system, which ultimately required career-threatening surgery.

In September 2021, Mark Henry announced that Magomedsharipov would be returning to the UFC soon.

In June 2022, Magomedsharipov notified the UFC that he was retiring from active competition.

He is currently coaching his younger brother, Khasan Magomedsharipov. According to his younger brother, Khasan, Zabit is interested in competing in wrestling and grappling competitions in the future. & Ranked #10 Submission of the Year 2018: Ranked #10 Fight of the Year & Ranked #3 Submission of the Year Absolute Championship Berkut ACB Featherweight Championship (One time) 2018 Submission of the Year. Ariel Helwani's show Submission of the Year 2018 World MMA Awards 2018 Submission of the Year vs. Brandon Davis at UFC 228

Sanda Russian champion (4x) European champion

Mixed martial arts amateur record Loss

Rakhman Makhazhiev Submission (armbar) M-1 Challenge 34

Moscow, Russia