UFC: Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘officially’ retires, says ‘I hope you’ll accept my decision and understand’
- UFC president Dana White thanks former lightweight champ in social media post, writing ‘enjoy whatever is next my friend’
- Promotion confirms Michael Chandler will fight Charles Oliveira for vacant title at UFC 262 in May
Dana White has finally given up his seeming lost cause of convincing Khabib Nurmagomedov to come back to the Octagon for one last fight, with the UFC president confirming his lightweight champ has called it quits.
The UFC president had dinner with the Russian in Las Vegas on Thursday night, and posted a picture of them together on Twitter saying “29-0 it is … he is [100 emoji] officially retired”.
“Thank you for EVERYTHING and enjoy whatever is next my friend,” White added, with the UFC quickly announcing No 4 lightweight Michael Chandler (22-5) will fight third-ranked Charles Oliveira (30-8, one no contest) for the vacant 155-pound title at UFC 262 in May.
“It was a good dinner with some great people,” the 32-year-old Russian Nurmagomedov later wrote in an Instagram post.
“@danawhite thank you so much brother and the entire @ufc team for the opportunity to prove myself, you guys have changed many live forever because of this sport,” he added.
“Dana – I’ll never forget your attitude towards me, my father did not forget and my sons will remember you. Today there was a real conversation between real men.
“Also thank you to all team, sparing partners and all fans. I hope you will accept my decision and understand me.”
“The Eagle” had initially announced his shock retirement in the Octagon after submitting Justin Gaethje (22-3) at UFC 254 last October on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.
He said he had promised his mother it would be his last fight after the death of his father and coach Abdulmanap at 57 in July due to complications from contracting Covid 19.
However, White had remained convinced he could talk Nurmagomedov around into going for 30-0, which had been Abdulmanap’s “dream” for his son.
The Dagestan native met White for talks in Abu Dhabi in January ahead of UFC 257, and said he would see if any fighter from the main event between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor, and the co-main event between Chandler and Dan Hooker, would show him “something spectacular”.
Poirier (27-6, one no contest) got a second-round TKO over McGregor (22-5), while former Bellator lightweight champ Chandler knocked out Kiwi Hooker (20-10) in the first round.
But Nurmagomedov has opted not to return, having seemingly settled into a life as a coach, recently cornering his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov (13-0) and their fellow countryman Islam Makhachev (19-1) for their recent wins.
“It’s so good not to be an active athlete,” Khabib Nurmagomedov had written in an ominous social media post this week, alongside a picture of him in San Francisco, California.
“Since 2012, I just dreamed of going to this city without preparing for my battle and without any diet, just walking and enjoying good food,” added the Russian, who trained at American Kickboxing Academy in nearby San Jose after joining the UFC in 2012.
