UFC’s “GOATED” lightweight, Khabib Nurmagomedov, showcased unparalleled dominance in the octagon throughout his career. His final professional fight was a title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020. With an immaculate record of 29 wins and 0 losses, Khabib gracefully retired, leaving a lasting legacy. Since that memorable fight, he has chosen not to step back into the ring, and now, as confirmed by his brother Umar Nurmagomedov, the possibility of his return, even as a cornerman, remains highly improbable.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Octagon Return Highly Unlikely, Says Nephew Umar
In a recent interview with Marc Raimondi, Umar Nurmagomedov shared insights from his text exchanges with Khabib. During the conversation, Raimondi also inquired about the current Bellator lightweight champion and pressed for details regarding the future plans of the renowned Russian fighter. In response, Umar stated, “I miss him a lot to be honest. I text him every day, like ‘Hey, when will you come back?’ He tells me, ‘Hey, leave me alone.”
Adding to that, when questioned about the possibility of Khabib returning, even in a coaching capacity, Umar Nurmagomedov responded with a definitive “no”. As he stated, “No. I know Khabib like a brother, like a human, so if he says something he follows. That’s what I learned from him. He is like example to me not only for this sport but for life too. And when he says something he follows.”
He added, “So I don’t think he’s gonna become a coach or cornerman. He doesn’t even come to watch fights in the arena. When I ask him to come to watch my fight in the arena? He says “between me and TV nobody is gonna sit, brother believe’ me.”
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UFC President Dana White made earnest attempts to entice Khabib for a final fight, dangling a highly enticing financial offer. However, Khabib firmly turned down all these propositions, reinforcing the skepticism surrounding his potential return to the octagon.
Even last year, despite his active involvement in coaching his team and playing a pivotal role in Islam Makhachev’s triumphs, Khabib made a complete departure from coaching. Since then, there hasn’t been any glimpse of him taking up coaching responsibilities. Now, aligned with his brother’s recent statement, it is clear that his return will be improbable and that Khabib will not make a comeback either as a coach or a cornerman.
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