Latest news with #BellatorChampionsSeries:Dublin
USA Today
11-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ali Abdelaziz opens up on why former UFC featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov retired
One of the most talented UFC featherweights abruptly retired before making a title run. Zabit Magomedsharipov surprised many when he decided to walk away from MMA in 2022. He retired on a 14-fight winning streak, and on the cusp of title contention after a Fight of the Night win over Calvin Kattar in November 2019. So why did Magomedsharipov (18-1 MMA, 6-0 UFC) hang up his gloves with so much promise? His manager Abdelaziz pointed to multiple failed bookings with Yair Rodriguez as the main reason. "No, he's not coming back," Abdelaziz said of Magomedsharipov on the "Pound 4 Pound" podcast. "Honestly, he got booked like three or four times with Yair Rodriguez. Yair Rodriguez kept pulling out on him, and he just lost love. I'm not going to blame anyone from the UFC. I could have, 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 businesses, married, and kids. He said, 'I don't need to do this.'" Magomedsharipov still trains and has been seen around his younger brother, Khasan Magomedsharipov (10-0), a 24-year-old undefeated professional MMA fighter, who was most recently seen in action in June 2024 when he defeated Tyler Mathison by unanimous decision at Bellator Champions Series: Dublin. "I'll tell you something: Zabit has a brother (Khasan) who I think is much better than Zabit," Abdelaziz said. "He fights in PFL. He's 24 years old. He's the same style as Zabit with a way better gas tank, with way better wrestling and grappling, and his striking, even better. I believe he can come to the UFC today and he's top five."
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bellator middleweight Norbert Novenyi Jr. granted release from PFL
Add Norbert Novenyi Jr. to the list of fighters no longer on the PFL roster. Like James Gallagher and several others, longtime Bellator fighter Novenyi Jr. (7-1 MMA, 6-1 BMMA) requested his release from PFL and he was granted his request. The London Shootfighters prospect took to Instagram to open up on his decision. 'And just like that, my Bellator era comes to an end. I'm incredibly grateful to PFL/Bellator for granting my request for release, making me officially a free agent. Bellator gave me some of the best moments of my life, and I'll always be thankful for the opportunities I had. As a kid, I always wanted to fight in Strikeforce. Well, I guess this was Strikeforce for me. A special thank you to @kogan_mike, @rich_chou, and @therealscottcoker for signing that 18 year old kid and giving him a platform to grow. The goal remains the same. To be the best in the world. I can't wait to see what the future holds. #LSF4LIFE.' Novenyi Jr. currently is in Riyadh to support teammate Michael Page, who meets Shara Magomedov in Saturday's UFC Fight Night 250 co-main event. After going unbeaten in his first seven professional fights, including a 46-second knockout of Kamil Oniszczuk at Bellator 297, the 25-year-old suffered his first-career loss in a majority decision to Dalton Rosta at Bellator Champions Series: Dublin this past June.
