Raul Rosas Jr. keeps climbing the UFC bantamweight ladder, and Zabit Magomedsharipov wants to find out if he can stop him on the mat. The retired UFC featherweight explained why he believes he could beat the American, who submitted his brother Khasan in Russia in July.
Rosas Jr.’s Rapid Rise at Bantamweight
Raul Rosas Jr., nicknamed “El Nino Problema,” was born in Clovis, New Mexico, to parents from Mexico City. He signed with the UFC at 17 years and 11 months old, right after winning on Dana White’s Contender Series, the promotion’s annual tryout show for prospects, in September 2022, becoming the youngest fighter ever signed by the organization. He turned 22 in October. He now carries a 7-1 UFC record, his only loss a unanimous decision to Christian Rodriguez in April 2023. He has won six straight fights inside the Octagon since, including a decision over veteran Rob Font in March and a fifth-round stoppage of Raoni Barcelos in September that pushed him into the bantamweight top 10. Outside the Octagon, he also submitted Khasan Magomedsharipov in a grappling match in July, then tapped out Colby Covington in 43 seconds at a Hype FC card in Rome in early November, stepping in on short notice for Dillon Danis both times.
A Win That Did Not Convince Everyone
Khasan Magomedsharipov had replaced his brother Zabit on short notice in the main event of ACBJJ 21, a grappling tournament held in Russia on July 5, after Zabit withdrew with an injury. Rosas Jr. had himself stepped in for a rumored opponent, Dan Hooker, for that bout. He submitted Khasan Magomedsharipov with a rear-naked choke in just over five minutes. The card also featured Rinat Fakhretdinov against Armen Petrosyan and Brendan Allen against Ramazan Kuramagomedov. Zabit Magomedsharipov blames jet lag and a rushed weight cut for his brother’s loss, and he wants to find out for himself how he would fare against Rosas Jr. “He’s a good grappler,” Magomedsharipov told Red Corner MMA, before adding that he believes he is stronger in terms of raw power and that “you can’t expose your back so easily” against him. Zabit Magomedsharipov now coaches his brother Khasan.
Seven Years Away From the Mats
Zabit Magomedsharipov left the UFC with a 6-0 record in the promotion, for an 18-1 mark in his professional career, with notable wins over Jeremy Stephens and Calvin Kattar, the latter dating back to 2020. Immune system issues that required surgery kept him out of competition starting in 2021. He was removed from the UFC rankings in April 2021 for inactivity, before formally notifying the promotion of his retirement in June 2022. He returned to competition in August at ACBJJ 22, held at Ora Arena in Istanbul, where he beat UFC featherweight Youssef Zalal, ranked in his division’s top 10, by decision after seven minutes, ending a seven-year absence from the mats. Born in Khasavyurt, Dagestan, he now trains out of Brick Township, New Jersey.
Next Stop: Abu Dhabi
No rematch between Zabit Magomedsharipov and Raul Rosas Jr. is booked at this point. The Russian must first make his Real American Freestyle debut on Saturday, November 14, at Etihad Arena on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, against Georgia’s Giga Chikadze, in a format the promotion is billing as wrestling rather than grappling. His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told MMA Junkie the deal covers four bouts with the organization. The deal itself was first reported on October 6, weeks before Chikadze was confirmed as his opponent. The same card is headlined by a Cruiserweight Crossover Championship bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Colby Covington, both unbeaten under that format; Chimaev, who has competed under the UAE flag since 2023, will fight in front of a home crowd. Wrestlers Arman Tsarukyan, Henry Cejudo, Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder are also on the card, along with Abdulrashid Sadulaev. The event, Real American Freestyle’s first in the Middle East, launches a five-year partnership between the promotion, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism and the UAE Wrestling Federation. No opponents have yet been announced for several of the wrestlers listed, and no date has been set for a possible Magomedsharipov-Rosas rematch.
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