Zabit Magomedsharipov is finally coming back, just not in the UFC. Multiple outlets, including Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and MiddleEasy, report that Magomedsharipov has signed a multi-fight deal with RAF and will face fellow UFC featherweight veteran Giga Chikadze. The bout is set for RAF's Abu Dhabi card on November 14 at Etihad Arena, and MMA Fighting says promotional officials confirmed the matchup directly.

This will be Magomedsharipov's first fight in nearly seven years. Magomedsharipov had spent years teasing a return, and signing with RAF rather than re-entering the UFC answers the question of where that comeback would actually happen.

Chikadze isn't walking in on a high note. He lost his most recent fight on September 19 to Joanderson Brito by first round knockout, finished by punches at 1:57. Our Elo model has him at 1444 across five bouts, a number that underscores how far he's slid since his UFC run. For Magomedsharipov, it's a winnable litmus test for how much he has left after such a long layoff.

The card carries extra weight because, according to 's report, Zabit Magomedsharipov is set to return on a card that is expected to be headlined by Khamzat Chimaev. Chimaev is ranked #13 in the UFC rankings and rates 1549 on our Elo from four bouts, but he's coming off his own setback, a split decision loss to Sean Strickland on May 9, 2026. That makes this a show built around two notable fighters trying to answer questions about where they stand.

The signing has already stirred discussion on r/MMA, where a thread on the move drew plenty of fan attention curious about what Magomedsharipov still has after such a long absence from competition.