Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White refused to take Khabib Nurmagomedov from the lightweight title after meeting the Dagestan champion last weekend in Abu Dhabi. That’s because White is convinced that “The Eagle” will fly again if one of the contending lightweights can do “something spectacular” at UFC 257 on “Fight Island”.
Or at least that was the story he told the mixed martial arts (MMA) media.
But according to Nurmagomedov, who was on location to corner his cousin and unbeaten bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Fight Island 8, he has no plans to return to combat sports, regardless of what happens to longtime rival Conor McGregor in his January 23-per-view (PPV) salary headliner against Dustin Poirier.
“I achieved almost everything in this sport and there is no one I would like to fight with now,” Nurmagomedov told Sport24. “A lot of people don’t want to understand my side. I don’t see that yet. I train for myself. If we talk about all my business projects that are planned, the struggles are not in those plans. “
Nurmagomedov retired from MMA after submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 last October. 2020 was a difficult year for “The Eagle”, who not only suffered several injuries and canceled the fight, but also lost his father. That’s why lightweight 29-0 promised his mother to end his career.
“My mother is the most precious thing I have left,” continued Nurmagomedov. “You are not going to force me to do things that will disappoint my mother. I don’t even have plans for the UFC in the near future. I don’t even have thoughts about getting ready for a fight. I saw how Umar was getting ready now and I thought, Alhamdulillah (praise be to God) I left this behind ”.
When (or if) Nurmagomedov will surrender his title in the UFC, it remains to be seen.