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Zabit Magomedsharipov to make RAF debut against UFC vet in Abu Dhabi

Former UFC featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov will make his debut for Real American Freestyle (RAF) on November 14th in Abu Dhabi, facing off against veteran Giga Chikadze. The 35-year-old Magomedsharipov left the UFC in 2019 after compiling a 6-0 record, citing frustration with matchmaking and scheduling issues, including a last-minute pullout by Yair Rodriguez.

Though he initially ruled out a return to MMA, he has since competed in amateur grappling and now steps back into the cage for this one-off bout. Meanwhile, Chikadze, a 38-year-old UFC veteran, enters the fight on a 1-4 losing streak over his last five appearances, adding intrigue to the matchup.

The event, headlined by Colby Covington vs. Khamzat Chimaev, also features a wrestling rewind of the 2019 World Championships classic between Jordan Burroughs and Azamat Nurykau.

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