ABU DHABI – UFC president Dana White is confident Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement announcement at UFC 254 is definitive.
Following his submission victory over Justin Gaethje (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) to defend the lightweight title in Saturday’s headliner at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) announced he’s going to hang up his gloves and move on from MMA competition.
Citing the recent death of his father and head coach, Abdulmanap, as well as a promise to his mother not to continue fighting, Nurmagomedov made the choice to exit the sport with his perfect record intact.
MMA retirements have proven to be consistently flimsy over the course of the sport’s history, but given the circumstances, White said he thinks Nurmagomedov’s will stick.
“I do (think he’ll stay retired),” Nurmagomedov told reporters, including MMA Junkie, post-fight at UFC 254. “What this guy’s been through – we’re all lucky that we got to see him fight tonight. I’m hearing rumors of other things that I didn’t know about that you guys will hear about when he comes out later. Apparently he was in the hospital – he broke his foot three weeks ago. So he has two broken toes and a bone that was broken in his foot. (He) never told anybody walking around. He is one of the toughest human beings on the planet and he is the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Seriously, you have to start putting him up there in GOAT status.”
Considering the personal hardships he endured leading up to fight night, Nurmagomedov’s performance against what was widely considered his most dangerous challenge was nothing short of sensational.
Nurmagomedov more than held his own in the striking department, then when the fight hit the mat, he was on a different level. He put Gaethje to sleep with a triangle choke in the second round, putting a lid on an effort that had White raving.
“He is the baddest mother(expletive) on the planet,” White said. “I can tell it almost smelled like an upset tonight the way that he reacted at the weigh-ins, the way that he acted when he was walking out tonight. He didn’t look like himself. Breathing heavy and taking deep breaths. But wow.”
Although White thinks Nurmagomedov’s announcement that his time as a UFC fighter is over will stick, he’s not counting out a change of heart. He’s not going to apply any pressure, but insinuated the door is always open.
“When guys want to fight, they fight,” White said. “When guys don’t want to fight, they don’t want to fight. Let him take some time off. Let him heal – not physically, but emotionally heal with what he’s going through from losing his father.”