While UFC president Dana White is confident that Khabib Nurmagomedov’s fighting career isn’t over, it appears Nurmagomedov is still comfortable with his decision to retire.
White first started expressing doubt about Nurmagomedov’s retirement just days after the lightweight champion made the announcement last month at UFC 254. White followed that up this week by saying the upcoming UFC 257 headliner between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier would not be for the 155-pound title because of Nurmagomedov.
“No, Khabib’s going to fight,” White said. “I believe he’s going to. (McGregor-Poirier is) not for the title.”
On Thursday while speaking to a group of young people, Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) gave no indication that White’s claim is true. He instead gave the opposite.
“You can fight until you’re 40, but there should be a goal,” Nurmagomedov said, as translated by Russian media outlet RT. “I had a goal to reach the summit, and I got there. Further, I have no competitive interest. Next year I will graduate. I’d like to (build on) my thesis, do a masters course, dedicate more time to studying. I’ve bought sheep, I tend to my farm. I’d like to develop in this field a little. I have the bull calves out to feed. I have cows.”
In announcing his retirement after submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, Nurmagomedov said he promised his mother he’d stop fighting without the guidance of his father and coach, Abdulmanap, who died in the summer from complications related to COVID-19.
Prior to his death, Abdulmanap expressed his desire for Khabib to reach 30-0 and then hanging up his gloves. White’s original claim, which he based on a conversation with Khabib, was that he wanted to still honor his father’s wish upon reflection.
Further proof that Nurmagomedov might want to return is the fact that he remains in the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency testing pool. He posted a photo this week on Instagram of him being tested.
“I told you guys that I think he’s going to go to 30 (wins),” White said. “If he’s still testing – why the hell would you want to test still if you’re not going to fight?
“He hasn’t committed, but I feel like he’s going to, and I’m not really pushing him. We talked about it, and he just fought. Let him take some time, spend some time with his family, spend the holidays. There’s no rush.”
