Ex-UFC featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov has issued a statement after earlier announcing a shocking retirement a few months back. One of the most skilled fighters ever to step inside the Octagon – the Russian phenom – remained a big what-if story in MMA. Earlier, his retirement news had startled the sports world and now the reason behind it will turn some heads as well. What did he say?

A highly ranked featherweight contender battled some injuries in the final stages of his UFC stint. Many fans believed this was the reason the Russian MMA professional parted ways with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. However, the latest words from Magomedsharipov suggest otherwise.

At an event, while answering why he retired, ‘ZaBeast‘ said, “There were many reasons. Firstly, because of [many opponents] refusals to fight with me. I had no fights for two years. Then there were injuries; I was sick a lot. I didn’t recover.”

These reasons were something fans were aware of. However, these weren’t the ‘main reason’ he retired. Magomedsharipov said, “They didn’t give me a title shot… They promised me and didn’t keep a promise. That was the main reason I got mad.”

Zabit Magomedsharipov answered whether he would return to UFC

Magomedsharipov was nothing but dominant inside the UFC Octagon. Analysts like Joe Rogan were in awe of his striking techniques and unseen trips.

After definitive performances, one after the other, the Russian athlete reached the top of the mountain, but perhaps multiple clashes between Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski for the featherweight gold did not help his case.

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Why Did Dana White Have to Convince Khamzat Chimaev to Not Retire?

That said, many fighters before him have returned to the Octagon in recent years after immaturely announcing a retirement. Thus, there’s still hope for the fans.

At the same event, while answering a fan question on a potential return, the former featherweight top-five said, “I want to do it when saw someone fighting. When I join their training camp.”

“There could be a wish,” the Russian gave a glimpse of hope to the fans who wanted to see him fight against the top of the featherweight division. Even his latest Instagram post’s caption reads (translated by Instagram), “He got in shape too.”

After he beat Calvin Kattar in a three-round war, contests against ‘Blessed‘ and/or a grappling/striking battle against Brian ‘T-City‘ Ortega were a few matchups that fans wanted to witness.

And to top them all, who can forget the Khabib Nurmagomedov–Tony Ferguson of the featherweight division – a clash with Yair Rodriguez?

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What do you make of Zabit Magomedsharipov’s comments? Will we ever see him return inside the Octagon?