This was reported by the Russian fighter’s manager, Rizvan Magomedov, in an interview with sports columnist Igor Lazorin.
“Yes, the last time they offered Zabit to come back two or three months ago – to semi-lightweight, or, if he wants, to lightweight,” Magomedov said. “If even he doesn’t want to perform, they just invited him to Las Vegas to discuss, to offer. But he just has no desire to come back, although there is nothing fundamental. Sometimes you want something and sometimes you don’t. Right now, he has no desire. He had health problems when he was actively fighting. Now those problems are gone, he’s feeling good, but he doesn’t have the motivation anymore”
A month earlier, Magomedsharipov revealed that he was promised an immediate featherweight title shot for his return to the octagon, but was not interested in the offer, which he ultimately declined.
Zabit Magomedsharipov, 32, last stepped into the octagon in November 2019, when he won a unanimous decision over Kelvin Kattar at UFC Moscow, but the Russian didn’t officially notify the organization that his career was over until June 2021.
In the world’s strongest league, Magomedsharipov scored six victories without suffering a single defeat and reached the third line of the UFC welterweight rankings.