Sun 25 October 2020:
Khabib Nurmagomedov has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts after successfully defending his UFC lightweight title against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
Nurmagomedov successfully defended his UFC lightweight title and extended his unbeaten record to 29-0 with a second-round victory in Abu Dhabi.
The match lasted 01:34 seconds into the round.
“God give me everything, and with my father, I love you so much, it was my last fight, when UFC called me about Justin, I talked to my mother, I promised her it would be my last fight,” Khabib said a post-fight interview.
A legacy like no other! Thank you @TeamKhabib #UFC254 pic.twitter.com/GGqpGjJluR
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
“Thank you to all this UFC team, everybody around the world, thank you so much Justin, you helped me a lot. I know you’re a great man. Today is my last fight in the UFC. It was my father, what else is there to prove? McGregor and Poirier fight in January, I choked out both of them, I’m not interested in this,” he added.
Khabib Nurmagomedov left a legacy that will last forever. pic.twitter.com/704OB4SDyc
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 25, 2020
McGregor took to social media on Saturday night to congratulate Nurmagomedov and confirmed he would continue in the sport, even without the prospect of a rematch with the Russian.
“Good performance @TeamKhabib,” McGregor wrote on Twitter.
“I will carry on. Respect and condolences on your father again also. To you and family. Yours sincerely, The McGregors.”
Good performance @TeamKhabib.
I will carry on.
Respect and condolences on your father again also. To you and family.
Yours sincerely, The McGregors.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 24, 2020
Nurmagomedov, from the Russia’s northern Caucasus Republic of Dagestan, is the first Russian and first Muslim to win the UFC lightweight championship.
The 32-year-old beat Conor McGregor from Ireland in Las Vegas, Nevada in a 2018 lightweight title fight.
Nurmagomedov lost his father and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, to the coronavirus in July.
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