SHARE
Zabit Magomedsharipov
Zabit Magomedsharipov - Credit: Zabit Magomedsharipov/Facebook

Former ACB Featherweight champion Zabit Magomedsharipov has finally put pen to paper and signed with the UFC. News of the deal comes after months of speculation since the top prospect made the move Stateside to further his career.

After moving to New Jersey last year to train the tutelage of Ricardo Almeida and Mark Henry at Team Ricardo Almeida BJJ, Magomedsharipov (12-1) made no secret of his desire to sign with the WME-IMG owned promotion. It has now emerged his wish has now been granted, as news of his signing was confirmed yesterday by The MMA Kings.

The 26-year-old made his professional debut in 2011, fighting around the Eastern European regional circuit, before signing with top Russian promotion ACB in 2014. There he would go on to win ACB’s Featherweight tournament before defeating Sheikh-Magomed Arapkhanov at ACB 31 for the vacant title.

He remained undefeated in the promotion before relinquishing the belt after his last defense, a win over Valdines Silva at ACB 45 last September, to focus on his move to the U.S. and his goal of signing with the UFC.

Now training alongside top names such as Frankie Edgar and Marlon Moraes, who have both been quick to praise the promising Russian, Magomedsharipov carries an eight-fight win streak into his UFC debut with seven of those eight wins coming inside the distance.

It is not yet known who Magomedsharipov will face on his promotional debut but MMA Plus will keep you up to date on any developments in this story as we get them.