"“Three or four times they had postponed fights and we couldn't make a deal,” Magomedsharipov told Absolute Championship of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (ACBJJ). “But all these times I was making weight, going through camps, flying out to America. And by the time you get there, you've already been through so much: weight cut, training camp and everything. And then you arrive, and two or three weeks before the f"
"Magomedsharipov particularly notes that he had multiple fights against fellow featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez canceled. After going through multiple training camps and weight cuts, only to have Rodriguez pull out at the last minute, Magomedsharipov had enough."
"However, Magomedsharipov also holds the UFC responsible. Magomedsharipov claims that he had a deal with the UFC that he would be granted the title shot if Rodriguez pulled out a third time. However, the UFC allegedly didn't keep its word, and Magomedsharipov believes he knows why."
"According to Magomedsharipov, with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Petr Yan already being champions, the UFC didn't want a third champion from Russia at the time. Magomedsharipov admits that the UFC was promoting him well before Nurmagomedov and Yan became champions."
Zabit Magomedsharipov retired from MMA after a career that included elite striking and grappling. He last fought in 2019 and retired in 2022 to pursue medicine. He attributed his early exit to repeated fight cancellations that took a physical and mental toll. He cited multiple canceled bouts with Yair Rodriguez after training camps and weight cuts, including last-minute withdrawals. He also said the UFC played a role by allegedly failing to honor a deal granting him a title shot if Rodriguez pulled out a third time. He suggested the UFC avoided having another Russian champion while Khabib Nurmagomedov and Petr Yan were already champions.
Read at Sherdog
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