Zabit Magomedsharipov Leaves Retirement Behind for Surprise Russian Grappling Match

Zabit Magomedsharipov hasn't stepped into a competitive arena in over seven years. His last outing was a dominant UFC win against Calvin Kattar in 2017. Soon after, health troubles forced him to retire unexpectedly. Fans have been begging for him to return ever since. Now, word is spreading that Magomedsharipov might be making a comeback—not in the octagon, but on the mats. Reports suggest he’ll face UFC veteran Dan Hooker in a grappling match in Moscow on July 5th. This isn’t just any fight. Hooker has struggled lately, losing two straight UFC bouts. In his last match, he tapped out to Arman Tsarukyan in the second round.The matchup raises questions. Why is Magomedsharipov choosing grappling over MMA? And why now? The Russian has always been known for his striking, not his ground game. His last MMA fight was a knockout win. Maybe he’s testing new skills—or just keeping things fresh. Either way, this surprise match is getting people talking.