Zabit Magomedsharipov Beats Youssef Zalal at ACBJJ 22

Zabit Magomedsharipov returned from a seven-year competitive absence to beat UFC featherweight contender Youssef Zalal by decision in the ACBJJ 22 main event on Sunday at ORA Arena in Istanbul.

The submission-grappling match ran seven minutes and went back and forth before the judges sided with Magomedsharipov, who had not competed since finishing Calvin Kattar in November 2019. Magomedsharipov walked away from mixed martial arts in 2022 sitting on an 18-1 professional record, a spotless 6-0 mark inside the UFC and a 14-fight win streak, numbers that still make him one of the sport's great "what if" cases. His grappling comeback was supposed to happen at ACBJJ 21 against Raul Rosas Jr., but an undisclosed injury pushed it back to this card against Zalal instead.

The rest of the ACBJJ 22 lineup went almost as well for the UFC's active roster. Former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad took the back of former Oktagon MMA champion Kerim Engizek and finished him with a rear-naked choke in the co-main event, a rare sight given Muhammad has just one other submission in 24 pro MMA wins, a rear-naked choke over Takashi Sato back in 2019. UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen defended his ACBJJ All-Stars title by heel-hooking Magomedrasul Gasanov, a member of Khabib Nurmagomedov's camp. Former UFC flyweight title challenger Muhammad Mokaev needed all nine minutes to get past Moris Boleian by unanimous decision, and ranked UFC flyweight Asu Almabayev won an ACBJJ title with a decision over Khalim Nazruloev.

What Does the Zabit Comeback Mean for the UFC

Magomedsharipov's win over Zalal does not put him back on a UFC contract, but it answers the question fans have been asking since 2022: can he still move at a high level? Beating a current UFC featherweight, even in a no-strikes grappling format, is the strongest signal yet that the shelf life on his athleticism has not expired. Zalal is an active, live body on the actual UFC featherweight roster, not a retired name or a tune-up opponent, and Magomedsharipov needed the full seven minutes and a judges' decision to get past him. That is meaningful data for a fighter who left the sport with knee, back and stomach issues piling up.

None of this is a UFC return announcement. It is a grappling exhibition win. But every time Magomedsharipov steps on a mat and looks competent against real competition, the speculation about a run back to the Octagon gets louder, and matchmakers take notice.

Betting Angle

There is no MMA betting market to speak of here since this was a grappling card, but the result still matters for anyone tracking futures on a Magomedsharipov MMA return. A clean, competitive win over a ranked-caliber UFC featherweight is the kind of proof-of-concept that would move oddsmakers and matchmakers alike if his camp ever floats a comeback fight. On the actual UFC side, Belal Muhammad's finish and Brendan Allen's heel hook are the kind of finishing instincts that follow fighters into their next scheduled octagon appearances and tend to get priced in by sportsbooks setting method-of-victory props.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Zabit Magomedsharipov vs Youssef Zalal match at ACBJJ 22?

Zabit Magomedsharipov won by decision over UFC featherweight contender Youssef Zalal in the ACBJJ 22 main event on Aug. 30, 2026, in Istanbul.

Is Zabit Magomedsharipov returning to the UFC?

No UFC return has been announced. Magomedsharipov's ACBJJ 22 win over Youssef Zalal was a grappling match, his first competitive appearance since 2019, not an MMA fight.

What did Belal Muhammad do at ACBJJ 22?

Belal Muhammad, the former UFC welterweight champion, submitted former Oktagon MMA champion Kerim Engizek with a rear-naked choke in the ACBJJ 22 co-main event.