The Future Of Featherweight Is Named Zabit
The biggest and most high-profile fight card of 2019 is set to go down this weekend (Sat., March 2, 2019) in the form of UFC 235 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event features two anticipated title fights, but the preliminary card will showcase a fight that will shape the future of the UFC featherweight division. That fight is the featured prelim bout of Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Jeremy Stephens.
Zabit has somewhat quietly been running roughshod over his opponents since debuting at UFC Rotterdam in September 2017. He’s often the talk of the moment during his fights, but we little from him in between. That’s okay, as the Dagestani isn’t known for his trash talk just like Khabib Nurmagomedov isn’t. What he is known for – just like Khabib – are his nearly peerless skills inside the Octagon.
The rising star has won all four of his UFC bouts including three via submission. The only fight he didn’t finish was a “Fight of the Year” contender with Kyle Bochniak at last year’s UFC 223. His list of UFC opponents isn’t exactly been a who’s who of featherweight contenders; quite the opposite, in fact. But Zabit will face his first true top challenge in longtime vet Stephens this weekend. True, Stephens has gone through his ups and downs in MMA, even considering suicide after a vicious loss to Jose Aldo last year.
Breakthrough Looming
You simply can’t argue that he’s not miles ahead of Brandon Davis, Bochniak, Sheymon Moraes, and Mike Santiago, however. He most certainly is. “Lil Heathen” is ranked number six as well, meaning that an impressive win will undoubtedly propel the No. 13-ranked Zabit into the Top 10. That’s when his true ascension to title contention can begin to evolve. Zabit stands at over 6’1″, a lethal combination when you add his grappling skills into the mix. He has seven submissions in 16 wins. He’s well-rounded as well, with six T/KOs mixed in. That’s 13 finishes in 16 wins.
Zabit has the chance to truly break through at UFC 235. He’s not on the pay-per-view main card, but being in the featured ESPN prelim bout could play into his favor. He’ll have a chance to secure his biggest-ever win in front of more people than will buy the pay-per-view. If he can do that, the sky will be the limit for him.
Stephens is a tough contender. That cannot and will not be denied. He’s only lost three times by submission and twice by knockout in 15 career losses. Those statistics could point to
A Path Not Defined
That doesn’t mean he’ll get the next shot. Division champ Max Holloway will take on top contender Dustin Poirier for the interim lightweight title in the main event of April’s UFC 236. “Blessed” has had his issues with the draining cut down to 145. And his current fight signifies he may not be long for 145. That casts a shadow of uncertainty over Holloway’s featherweight reign. But more specifically, it does just what every champion does when they move up or down a weight class to contend for a new belt – clogs up the division for an unknown period of time.
That’s okay also. Zabit may not be ready for a shot at Holloway with a victory over Stephens, but he’ll be close. Killing off a contender by pitting him against Volkanovski in his next fight (should he defeat Stephens) may not be the best route to go. But there aren’t too many other avenues for Zabit to head in if he does defeat Stephens. Perhaps he could fight longtime contender Frankie Edgar, who seems willing to take on the next big thing in order to extend his career. He could fight Brian Ortega as well, yet “T-City” seems to want Aldo for his next fight.
Either way, there’s time. Zabit seems to be the future of the featherweight division no matter what. Any outcome outside of a one-sided knockout loss to Stephens at UFC 235 will further his attention and hype. Zabit has all the tools and a loyal fanbase growing with each bout.
We’re witnessing the rise of another dominant Dagestani in Zabit, and it continues this weekend.
