Khabib Nurmagomedov knew that his UFC career would not be eight years before he decided to hang the gloves.
The legendary lightweight champion Nurmagomedov succeeded in retiring undefeated in October 2020 when he defeated Justin Gaethje on UFC 254. However, it is believed that he stopped the sport early because of his mother who begged him to spend more time after his father Abdulmanap's death.
Since then he has become a successful coach and the Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov for their lightweight title victories in UFC and Bellator respectively. He is also involved in the coaching of PFL's 2024 champion Gadhzi Rabadanov, which means that his gym has all three hunters.
Khabib Nurmagomedov predicted UFC pension years before it happened
Khabib Nurmagomedov spent years as a frightening and dominant champion in the UFC, where many fans feel that he would never be defeated. He won the belt in a controversial way by beating Al Iiaquinta alone, but continued to dominate Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier in his first two defenses.
However, when he hung up the gloves after he defeated Gaethje, fans were shocked. But a new video discovered by Red Corner MMA shows that he was planning to get out for years and to notice the difficulties associated with a hunter of the highest level.
“My plan is because I am 24 if I stay the belt win and I stay unbeaten, I will probably leave the sport,” Nurmagomedov explained at the time. “Because it doesn't have an end. So if I can win the title and remain unbeaten, I am retired.”
Dana White begged Khabib Nurmagomedov to return
After his retirement, Dana White refused to admit that Khabib's career was really done for months. He continued to offer the former champion Comeback opportunities for Monster wallets, but was punished on every occasion.
“The truth is that he is not committed to anything,” White said at the time, before a failed effort. “What he has promised is to meet me next month. We're going to find out how convincing I can be. I put on me every time.”
It took until the next May, almost a year after the emotional moment in Abu Dhabi, before White set up an empty title fight. Charles Oliveira defeated Michael Chandler to take the belt and was eventually defeated by Nurmagomedov's Protege Makhachev.
Since then, Makhachev has argued for the greatest lightweight of all time by actively defending his title. He broke the record for most defenses with victories on Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski and Renato Moicano, with Ilia Topuria who now appears like a top day out.
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