TLDR
- Zabit Magomedsharipov wants to reschedule a grappling match with Raul Rosas Jr. after withdrawing due to injury in July
- Zabit’s brother Khasan replaced him and was submitted by rear-naked choke in just over five minutes
- Zabit believes he has superior raw power while Rosas possesses better technical grappling skills
- Rosas recently submitted Colby Covington in the first round at Hype FC with a rear-naked choke
- Zabit faces Giga Chikadze on November 14 in Abu Dhabi in his Real American Freestyle debut
Sources: sherdog.com | yardbarker.com | yardbarker.com
Former UFC featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov is pushing to reschedule a grappling match against Raul Rosas Jr. after an injury forced him out of their planned bout in July. The two fighters were originally scheduled to face each other under the ACBJJ banner in Moscow.
When Zabit withdrew due to injury, his brother Khasan Magomedsharipov stepped in as a short-notice replacement. Rosas needed just over five minutes to submit Khasan with a rear-naked choke.
Zabit acknowledged that Rosas possesses elite grappling skills in a recent interview with Red Corner MMA. However, he believes external factors contributed to his brother’s quick defeat.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Zabit Magomedsharipov confirms the story: he once KO’d Aljamain Sterling with a Showtime Kick in training, he tells Red Corner MMA.
Zabit Magomedsharipov confirms the story: he once KO’d Aljamain Sterling with a Showtime Kick in training, he tells Red Corner MMA.
"He was small back then. The video is in the archives and it can't be shown" pic.twitter.com/gc4mIouXVI
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 29, 2026
“Khasan was a bit jetlagged after a flight,” Zabit explained. “I think the weight cut and everything affected him.”
Power Versus Technique
The Russian fighter sees the potential matchup as an interesting clash of styles. He believes he holds an advantage in physical strength while Rosas brings superior technical skills.
“I believe I’m stronger in terms of raw power,” Zabit said. “But in terms of pure skills, it would be an interesting matchup.”
Zabit met Rosas face-to-face during their Moscow event and came away with specific impressions. He noted that the 22-year-old UFC bantamweight didn’t feel particularly strong physically but demonstrated clear technical excellence.
“When we had a face-off in Moscow, I felt he wasn’t that strong,” Zabit said. “But he has the grappling skills.”
The former UFC star specifically praised Rosas’ ability to take the back and secure chokes. This skill was on full display when Rosas recently submitted Colby Covington with a rear-naked choke in the first round at Hype FC.
Recent Victories Build Momentum
Zabit believes Covington underestimated the young grappler in their match. “You can’t expose your back so easily,” he said about the former welterweight contender’s quick loss.
The Russian describes Rosas as “not that athletic” but emphasizes his wrestling knowledge and back-taking abilities. “He knows wrestling and he is good at taking the back and catching the neck, like he did with Khasan,” Zabit added.
Zabit returned to active competition in August after nearly seven years away from fighting. He defeated Youssef Zalal by unanimous decision in a grappling match at ACBJJ, marking his first competitive appearance since leaving the UFC.
The former featherweight contender has since signed a multi-match deal with Real American Freestyle. He is scheduled to make his promotional debut against Giga Chikadze on November 14 in Abu Dhabi.
Rosas has been building momentum in both MMA and grappling competitions. The UFC bantamweight continues to showcase the rear-naked choke abilities that caught Zabit’s attention, submitting both Khasan Magomedsharipov and Colby Covington in recent months.
Zabit’s November 14 match against Chikadze will be contested under freestyle wrestling rules. The bout takes place at a Real American Freestyle event in Abu Dhabi, giving fans their first look at Zabit in his new promotional home.
