It’s official again, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is retired.
UFC president Dana White had been chasing “The Eagle” since announcing he was walking away from the sport back in October. White hoped the champion would fight one more time, but he conceded on Thursday night after speaking with Nurmagomedov again.
“29-0 it is,” White tweeted, sharing a picture of himself with Nurmagomedov. “He is officially retired. It was incredible to watch you work @TeamKhabib thank you for EVERYTHING and enjoy whatever is next my friend.”
29-0 it is.
He is 💯 officially retired. It was incredible to watch you work @TeamKhabib thank you for EVERYTHING and enjoy whatever is next my friend.
According to ESPN, Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira will fight for the vacant title on May 15.
The next day, UFC superstar Conor McGregor reacted to “The Eagle’s” retirement. As most MMA fans know, McGregor and Nurmagomedov are fierce rivals who have never missed a chance to take aim at the other. They fought at UFC 229 for the lightweight champion and The Eagle defeated the Irishman via fourth-round submission.
Taking to social media, “Notorious” got in a few more shots at his rival, posting:
“Happy retirement kid, smell ya later. Never forget who came in the game and made ye. Straight from my big Irish balls. Remember folks, if you hate cutting weight so much, all you have to do is move up a division. God bless.”
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Nurmagomedov Shared a Retirement on Social Media
After White’s message about The Eagle on Friday, Nurmagomedov shared a retirement message:
It was a good dinner with some great people. @danawhite thank you so much brother and the entire @ufc team for the opportunity to prove myself, you guys have changed many live forever because of this sport
Dana – I’ll never forget your attitude towards me, my father did not forget and my sons will remember you. Today there was a real conversation between real men. Also thank you to all team, sparing partners and all fans. I hope you will accept my decision and understand me.
Nurmagomedov walks away from the sport with a perfect professional record of 29-0. He successfully defended the lightweight title three times and has defeated some of the biggest names in the division, including McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
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Nurmagomedov’s Most High-Profile Teammate Wished Him Well
Former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier commented on Nurmagomedov’s post. The two champions have trained at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, together for years. Cormier wrote:
My brother you’re the best and you have the support of the entire world behind you. You’re the man Khabib, you really changed our gym and helped to bring San Jose and Dagestan into one. You’re fight career was only a small part of the impact you’re gonna leave on this sport and the world. My brother, it’s pretty fun on this side :)
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Conor McGregor Reacts: ‘Straight From My Big, Irish Balls’