It was confirmed on Friday that UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov had officially retired. Although the dominant 29-0 Russian Champion had already claimed as such prior, UFC President Dana White was trying to tempt him back to the octagon.
‘29-0 it is. He is 100% officially retired’ Dana White wrote back on Friday. ‘It was incredible to watch you work @TeamKhabib, thank you for EVERYTHING and enjoy whatever is next my friend.’
Khabib Nurmagomedov spoke at the UFC Vegas 22Â post-fight show. ‘No [I never contemplated coming back], but Dana called this official,’ Nurmagomedov said laughing. ‘But I retired like five, six months ago. It’s very funny. Dana told me when he posted this, he said someone write me comment about, ’˜He retired not today, he retired like five months ago.’”
Khabib Nurmagomedov on ‘Official’ Retirement
“It’s funny a little bit, but we have some conversations with Dana a couple of times” Khabib continued. “Like two days ago, we meet with him, sit, talk like two real men. We have a very good conversation with him, good dinner.”
‘I really appreciated him. Everything what he did, not only for me, but for all this sport” Khabib stated. “Because UFC’s a big platform. A lot of people around the world because of UFC make money and give food for his kids, for clothes. They’re doing a great job.”
Khabib also wanted to re-iterate that he was done, and felt that he had nothing else to prove in the octagon. “I’m very happy about all my journey. Right now, I feel I don’t have nothing to prove, to show people who I am. I do everything in this sport.”
“I feel I don’t need to do nothing. Two days ago, when I talk with Dana, I tell him everything that I feel and he said he’s going to support me anyways. I’m very happy about this.’
Khabib Nurmagomedov finished by thanking the UFC for the opportunities he was given. “That’s why I want to say thank you to all UFC team. [Former UFC co-owner] Lorenzo [Fertitta], Dana, everyone who signed me, [former UFC matchmaker]Â Joe Silva, like everybody, [UFC matchmaker]Â Sean Shelby. These guys are doing a great job. Because of these people, a lot of people have money, they have food for their family. Thank you guys.’
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