In a sit-down interview with ACBJJ ahead of his July 5 return to competition, Zabit Magomedsharipov finally opened up about the reasons behind his departure from the UFC, a topic he had largely avoided discussing publicly for years.
When asked why he walked away from the sport at the peak of his career, Zabit explained that repeated match cancellations and constant disruptions eventually pushed him to his limit.
“There were a lot of reasons, but nothing bad happened,” Zabit said. “I was supposed to compete three or four times, but the matches kept getting postponed and we couldn’t come to an agreement.”
He continued, “I would cut weight, go through a full training camp, fly all the way to America, and then two or three weeks before the match they’d tell me my opponent was injured. The match would get pushed back, and I’d have to go home and start preparing all over again. I went through that five times, and eventually I was just exhausted.”
Zabit then revealed that he believed he had an understanding with the UFC regarding his repeated opponent withdrawals, particularly surrounding a potential title path against Yair Rodriguez.
“We had conversations where it was basically understood that if he pulled out for a third time, I would automatically get my title opportunity,” he said. “But then he found more reasons not to compete, and after that they started offering me different opponents. At that time, Rodriguez and I were really the main contenders in the division, but they didn’t want to make me champion. I know why too.”
When asked directly why he believed the UFC did not want him holding the belt, Zabit pointed to the growing number of Russian champions in the promotion at the time.
“Back then there were already a lot of Russian champions,” he said. “Khabib Nurmagomedov was champion, and Petr Yan was there too. I don’t think it benefited them to have another Russian champion.”
Zabit stated, “Earlier in my career, before all of that, they promoted me heavily and were very interested in me. But later I felt like they started pushing me into the background a little.”
Zabit also claimed the promotion had a different plan for the featherweight division at the time, mentioning Chan Sung Jung (The Korean Zombie).
“They really wanted to make The Korean Zombie champion,” he said. “They tried hard to make that happen, but it just didn’t work out.”
The former featherweight contender then described the exact moment he decided he was done with the UFC for good.
“They called me again and told me Rodriguez had withdrawn,” Zabit recalled. “That night, back at the hotel, I made my decision. I bought a ticket home and decided I wasn’t going to do this anymore. By that point, it had become a matter of principle for me. I had already made my conditions clear, and I felt like we just kept going in circles.”
Despite stepping away from the sport, Zabit made it clear he left on his own terms and without damaging his reputation.
“My stock was still clean,” he said.
As for why he chose ACBJJ for his return instead of the many other offers he reportedly received, Zabit said the decision came down to comfort and trust in the organization.
“If I’m going to compete again, I want to do it for myself,” he said. “I really like this league. I’ve known the people there for a long time, and I appreciate how professionally they run events, without unnecessary drama or complications.”
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated and edited for clarity and readability.]
