UFC blamed for Zabit Magomedsharipov’s premature retirement as recent comeback talk is strongly shut down

Fans have been told not to hold out hope of seeing Zabit Magomedsharipov back inside the UFC Octagon.

When it comes to the biggest ‘what if’ fighter in UFC history, not many can hold a candle to Magomedsharipov’s claim to that status. The Russian was widely tipped for greatness at 145 pounds, especially after Magomedsharipov’s main event win over Calvin Kattar in 2019 left him 18-1 as a professional and undefeated in the UFC.

But he has not competed since, and a mysterious layoff was followed by confirmation of the 34-year-old’s shock retirement in 2022.

In the years since, frequent speculation of a return has arisen. But while that talk picked up in early 2025, the same person who teased a comeback for Magomedsharipov has now shut it down — and placed some blame on the UFC in the process.

READ MORE: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager reveals Dana White warning that stopped him from joining UFC 229 brawlAli Abdelaziz shares blame with UFC for Zabit Magomedsharipov’s shock retirementDuring a recent appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, hosted by two of his fighters in Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Ali Abdelaziz addressed talk of the UFC’s biggest-ever ‘what if’ returning.

Though Abdelaziz sparked rumors of a Magomedsharipov UFC comeback, he has now firmly stated that there is no chance of it coming to fruition

“No, he’s not coming back.”

And in terms of why the highly regarded Dagestani called it quits in his prime, Abdelaziz believes he shares blame with the UFC.

“Honestly, he got booked like three or four times with Yair Rodriguez. Yair Rodriguez kept pulling out on him,” Abdelaziz said. “He just lost love.

“I am not going to blame anyone from the UFC. I could, but I am not going to do it. I think it was a little bit of the UFC’s fault, and also maybe a little bit of my fault. I should never have made them book him again with Yair Rodriguez. This guy pulled out three, four times, right?

“In a way, I think Zabit fell off. He has a lot of business, married, kids. He said, ‘I don’t need to do this,’” Abdelaziz added.

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Zabit Magomedsharipov has not lost his MMA skillsWhile announcing the end of his in-cage career in a post on Instagram, Magomedsharipov admitted that although he was healthy, he does not feel the same as he once did as a fighter.

“I have recovered now, but I don’t feel the way I used to,” Magomedsharipov wrote. “Thank you to everyone who has supported me for such a long time. I didn’t have time to become a champion, but I think, even without this, I hope I was able to please/entertain you.
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“I cease to be an active athlete, but I do not leave the sport. I have something and with whom to share my knowledge. So don’t say goodbye, friends.”

Despite that, though, the Russian still looks as sharp as ever.

Footage of Magomedsharipov training MMA emerged earlier this year after the once highly touted featherweight conducted a seminar at Dubai’s Buka Gym.

But while his teammate Muskhab Kudiev predicted a comeback in the caption of the video, Abdelaziz’s latest remarks appear to have emphatically shut down that possibility.