Abubakar Nurmagomedov Books Grappling Rematch vs Zawada

Abubakar Nurmagomedov is returning to combat sports for the first time in three years, booked for an 84-kilogram wrestling rematch against David Zawada at AIGA's Global Grappling Series 2026 event on Sept. 20 at ORA Arena in Istanbul.

The two have history. Zawada submitted the Khabib Nurmagomedov cousin via first-round triangle choke when they met in the UFC in November 2019 in Moscow, the lone win of Zawada's four-fight UFC run. Abubakar Nurmagomedov went 2-2 in the UFC overall and hasn't fought since dropping a split decision to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in June 2023.

Zawada has stayed far more active, competing across Oktagon MMA, the PFL and KSW since leaving the UFC. He's coming off a loss to David Kozma under the Oktagon banner on Aug. 1, so he'll arrive in Istanbul on a skid and looking to add a second career win over Nurmagomedov on the mat rather than in a cage.

This isn't an MMA fight, it's a grappling contest under AIGA rules, so styles and finishing paths look different than their 2019 clash. Books rarely post lines for regional grappling cards, but given Zawada's recent finish over Nurmagomedov and his heavier competitive workload the last three years, he'd likely draw more respect from anyone pricing this one than the long-idle Nurmagomedov, who hasn't competed in any format since 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Abubakar Nurmagomedov return to competition?

Abubakar Nurmagomedov returns on Sept. 20, 2026, facing David Zawada in an 84-kilogram wrestling match at AIGA's Global Grappling Series event in Istanbul, Turkey.

Did Abubakar Nurmagomedov and David Zawada fight before?

Yes, they met in the UFC in November 2019 in Moscow, where David Zawada submitted Abubakar Nurmagomedov with a first-round triangle choke.

What was Abubakar Nurmagomedov's last fight before this booking?

Abubakar Nurmagomedov's most recent MMA bout was a split decision loss to Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos in June 2023.