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Khabib Nurmagomedov is retired. Or is he?
Maybe that’s what we will finally find out after Khabib consults with UFC president Dana White.
Oct. 24– Khabib Nurmagomedov beats Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 Oct. 24– Khabib retires following UFC 254 victoryNov. 14– Khabib exposes 47 th drug test considering that 2015 Nov. 24– Khabib posts about upcoming meeting with Dana White.
Khabib’s retirement statement.
Khabib amazed everybody, even long time coach Javier Mendez, when he announced his retirement following his second-round submission of Justin Gaethje in the UFC 254 centerpiece on Oct. 24 on UFC Fight Island.
Prior to that fight, White said he has something unique in the works for Khabib, ought to he emerge victorious. He did win, notching his 29 th successive victory in a career that has actually seen no beats, but then called it stops before White could reveal his plan for the lightweight champion.
” Today I wish to state, this was my last battle. No chance I can come here without my daddy,” Khabib said after putting Gaethje to sleep. “I assured (my mom) this would be my last battle.”.
Any battle is loaded with adrenalin and feelings following a fight, however even more so for Khabib at UFC254 His father, Abdulmanap, died in July following heart surgical treatment, which had been made complex by him contracting COVID-19 The battle with Gaethje was the first time Khabib needed to prepare without his dad by his side.
The guarantee he made to his mother taxed Khabib, who has actually long been very devoted to his household, continuously putting his regard for his parents above nearly whatever else.
What could guide Khabib away from retirement?
Before his father’s death, Khabib and Abdulmanap had targeted 30 profession victories as a potential landmark to activate his retirement. That might also be something that weighs heavily on him.
Khabib announced his retirement following UFC 254, he has stayed in the USADA drug testing swimming pool. He posted to Instagram on Nov. 14, mentioning that he had actually simply undergone his 47 th drug test given that2015 That suggests he is eligible to go back to the Octagon at any time without constraint.
White has actually likewise firmly insisted that he does not think that Khabib is done fighting. Though he respected Khabib’s statement at UFC 254, White stated that his sensation was that Khabib would want to honor his daddy by notching a 30 th success.
White has actually not made a move to state an interim champion or made any talk about plans for a UFC light-weight title battle should Khabib’s retirement ended up being long-term. He has rather stated that he was going to give Khabib a long time to mull it over.
” I’m giving Khabib a long time to think this over. And he and I are going to get together and meet quickly. So we’ll talk,” White stated at the UFC 255 press conference.
He even went so far in a current interview with TMZ sports to state that if Khabib is to fight again, one of four fighters that have actually bouts arranged would be the next challenger.
” Among those people will absolutely remain in for the (Khabib) fight,” White said of Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier, who will headline UFC 257 in January, and Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira, who are salted to eliminate on Dec. 12 at UFC256
It’s still unclear whether Khabib is even thinking about a return. He had commented in a recent Russian news report that he had no additional competitive interests, however Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, refuted those reports as “fake news.”.
On Tuesday, Khabib posted an image of him alongside White to his Instagram with a caption that read, “See you quickly Dana White.”.
That, of course, is far from any sort of commitment to a return. It could mean almost anything. It appears, nevertheless, that a time for clarity is likely coming quickly.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov).
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Associated Video > Dana White thinks Khabib is going to combat again.
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