Khabib Nurmagomedov's teammate believes he would return to middleweight if he ever returns and win gold immediately.
The legendary lightweight world champion retired 29-0 after his family asked him to hang up his gloves in 2020. His father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov had just passed away and he quickly turned to promotion and coaching.
Now he has led his team, including 2024 PFL champion Gadhzi Rabadanov, to every major lightweight title in the world. However, he is still on the mat every day and the PFL tournament winner believes that if he were to return, he would still be at the pinnacle of the sport.
Khabib Nurmagomedov 'still trains every day' after retirement
Since deciding to retire from MMA following his victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, Khabib Nurmagomedov has turned his hand to a number of different ventures. He briefly promoted Eagle FC events and, among others, Rabadanov and his cousins Umar and Usman Nurmagomedov achieved world fame.
Photo by Al Bello/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
And he manages all of this while maintaining a strict training schedule, where he spars at top level with the best in the gym. Speaking exclusively to Bloody Elbow, Rabadanov explained: “He still trains every day.
“He still trains like a professional fighter, every day he will never stop. If he could, he would train while flying or in the Arabian desert.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov would beat Dricus Du Plessis if he returned
At the time Khabib decided to hang up his gloves, he had just turned 32 a week earlier. After wins over Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and ultimately Justin Gaethje, there was a belief that there wasn't a lightweight around who could beat him.
However, he has continued to gain weight during his time away from the cage, and would now never be able to make the 155-pound limit again, causing him to lose weight and even be hospitalized during his younger years. He is believed to weigh over 200 pounds, although Rabadanov doesn't feel like he would be a light heavyweight.
Another factor at play is that the UFC lightweight champion is currently his protégé Islam Makhachev. And even at welterweight, his training partner Belal Muhammad holds the belt, meaning he should probably move up even further.
“He's not that light anymore,” Rabadanov continued. “I think middleweight might be good. 100 percent [he could beat Dricus Du Plessis]. Khabib is on another level.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov will never return, says teammate
However, it is highly unlikely that the legendary lightweight will ever return to fighting. Dana White bombarded him with offers after his first emotional speech after the Gaethje fight, but he stayed strong.
Ultimately, the UFC relented and he was forced to fight for the vacant title, and now years later he remains a champion in a sense through Makhachev's coaching. And Rabadanov notes that the area where they grew up is a man's word is his bond.
“Where we come from, when a man says his word, he sticks to it,” he explained when asked if his teammates ever asked him to return. “So no, he will never fight again.”
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