Tag: Khabib Nurmagomedov

In the end, Dana White and UFC’s effort to lure Khabib back was futile – but appreciated | Opinion

The UFC failed to convince Khabib Nurmagomedov to walk back his retirement, but it was still a task worth pursuing.

[autotag]Dana White[/autotag] announced late Thursday night what the world already knew: [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag]’s prize fighting days are over.

After a meeting in Las Vegas, White and the UFC finally acknowledged Nurmagomedov’s retirement. White posted a photo on Instagram with the former lightweight campion, saying Nurmagomedov is “100 percent officially retired” and thanked him for the years of competition under the UFC banner.

The recognition of Nurmagomedov’s retirement comes five months late, as the Dagestani fighter first announced he was done last October after defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. It was an emotional scene for  Nurmagomedov, who had lost his father and coach, Abdulmanap, months prior due to complications from COVID-19. Immediately after the fight, “The Eagle” broke into tears, took off his gloves and said, “It was my last fight, no way I’m going to come here without my father.” He had made a promise to his mother, too.

It felt like a genuine goodbye, far from a ploy to leverage the UFC for more money.

Yet, despite all the indicators and comments from Nurmagomedov reaffirming the decision, White insisted that he could bring back Nurmagomedov and that the retirement wasn’t set in stone.

Many people, including myself, clamored to say that Nurmagomedov should be left alone and that White needed to respect his decision. Constant comments from White about a potential comeback, several meetings in both Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas, and more, it all just seemed tone deaf from the UFC’s side.

But now, with no powerful forces trying to lure Nurmagomedov back into the fight game and with a title fight booked for what once seemed like Nurmagomedov’s lightweight belt for years to come, the farewell of a historical and generational talent has sunk in. And White’s efforts to bring back Nurmagomedov are now seen a little differently – and dare I say, even appreciated.

Nurmagomedov left the sport abruptly. It was a shock to the entire combat sports world.

At just 32, Nurmagomedov was in a unique position that very few are able to attaint. He was unbeaten, which is unheard of at the elite level of MMA, and he reached the top of arguably the toughest division in the sport while still proving to be levels above his counterparts.

Nurmagomedov didn’t reach the top of the mountain by emptying out his gas tank and struggling to get by. He did it with unstoppable pressure and relentless takedowns that, with time, they just became law of nature.

[lawrence-related id=596740,596711]

He didn’t give the world any notion that he was slowing down, and his best performance was his last with a masterful submission win over the dangerous Gaethje. Nurmagomedov had two or three solid years left in his prime.

Which makes you wonder: How far could Nurmagomedov have taken his legacy? What levels of greatness were attainable? How long could he have remained unbeaten in a sport where defeat is inevitable?

Those are all questions that will never get answered.

There have been many greats, some maybe greater than Nurmagomedov depending on who you ask, but it’s undeniable that no one has done it like he has. His dominance is historical and second to none. There will never be another fighter that avoids the inevitable pitfalls of the sport both in and out of the cage.

It’s a shame to see Nurmagomedov go, as it feels like there was a considerable amount left on his runway of greatness without getting too close to the edge.

White certainly got pushy, but at least we can rest easy knowing that there was nothing to be done. God knows White and the UFC did everything in their power to get their superstar to push the bar further, even for just one last dance.

For history’s sake, I now can appreciate White’s efforts to get Nurmagomedov back in the game. Sure, there was plenty of money for the UFC to make from Nurmagomedov, as he’s one of the most prestigious and recognized names in combat sports. But there was also a lot of potential history, records, and new bars to be set.

When there’s that level of greatness on the line, all you can do is appreciate what you saw.

[vertical-gallery id=437333]

Conor McGregor chimes in on Khabib’s retirement: ‘Never forget who … made you’

Conor McGregor refuses to let Khabib Nurmagomedov walk away in peace and left him with one last parting.

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] refuses to let [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] retire in peace.

McGregor, who was submitted in the fourth round by lightweight champion Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, has been campaigning for a rematch ever since their October 2018 fight. “The Notorious” is the only man to ever take a round from Nurmagomedov, but it was otherwise an overall dominant performance for Nurmagomedov.

The heated rivalry and build-up resulted in a record-breaking 2.4 million pay-per-view buys, catapulting Nurmagomedov into one of MMA’s biggest stars. And in wake of Nurmagomedov’s official retirement Thursday, McGregor made sure to remind him of the role he played in his ascent to stardom.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMmnqdwJpb0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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.

After Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor, a massive brawl ensued, which resulted in both men getting suspended. The aftermath had many pondering if there was unfinished business, but Nurmagomedov made it clear that he never had any interest in running things back with McGregor, whom he deemed undeserving. McGregor recently said Nurmagomedov retired because he was “afraid” of the rematch.

McGregor rebounded from the Nurmagomedov loss with a 40-second finish of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246, setting him up with a rematch against Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. UFC president Dana White’s interest in a rematch between Nurmagomedov and McGregor was a reason why he continued to pursue his return, but after Poirier played spoiler with a TKO of McGregor, the idea fizzled out.

Nurmagomedov hung up his gloves after a perfect career, capping things off with another spectacular finish against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October. After multiple meetings with White, Nurmagomedov stood firm on his decision as the lightweight division is set to officially crown a new champion when Charles Oliveira faces Michael Chandler in the UFC 262 main event on May 15.

McGregor, on the other hand, is in talks of completing a trilogy with Poirier, which is projected to take place in summer.

[jwplayer y30zaWDp-FLu19iir]

Khabib Nurmagomedov bids farewell in retirement: ‘I hope you will accept my decision’

Now former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov shares some thoughts after convincing Dana White his retirement is official.

If he wasn’t already, UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] is now officially retired.

UFC president Dana White continuously tried to talk him out of it, but Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) – who hung up his gloves after submitting Justin Gaethje last October at UFC 254 – stood firm in his decision, which White finally accepted after a meeting Thursday night in Las Vegas.

The passing of Nurmagomedov’s father, coach and mentor, Abdulmanap, hit him hard, and “The Eagle” promised his mother that he would no longer compete without his father in his corner.

White and Nurmagomedov met on multiple occasions in the past several months to discuss his future, but it appears that their Thursday meeting was conclusive as White declared Nurmagomedov “officially retired,”, lauding him for a remarkable career.

Nurmagomedov later took to Instagram to share some thoughts, thanking White, the UFC and those around him for being a part of his journey.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMlknwdMIO1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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.

In 29 professional fights, Nurmagomedov never lost. He exited the sport in his best form with three straight dominant submission wins over Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Gaethje.

In Nurmagomedov’s absence, the lightweight division will move forward and crown a new champion when Charles Oliveira takes on Michael Chandler on May 15 in the main event of UFC 262.

[listicle id=596691]

Twitter reacts to Khabib’s official retirement, Charles Oliveira-Michael Chandler UFC title fight

Check out the top Twitter reactions to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement and UFC’s 262 title fight of Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler.

A new chapter in UFC lightweight history began on Thursday when [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag]’s retirement was officially recognized by Dana White and the lightweight title became vacant.

It took only a matter of moments for a new championship bout to be booked. [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (30-8 MMA, 18-8 UFC) will finally get his crack at UFC gold when he meets [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (22-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a dual for Nurmagomedov’s freshly relinquished strap at UFC 262 on May 15.

The landscape shifting moment naturally got a major rise out of the MMA community. For more, check out the top Twitter reactions to the major news around the UFC’s 155-pound division.

With Khabib retired, Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler set for vacant title at UFC 262

At UFC 262, the vacant lightweight championship will be up for grabs.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] officially has given up his UFC lightweight championship, but it won’t be vacant for long.

Lightweight contenders [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] and [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] are set to square off for the belt on May 15 at UFC 262. The event does not currently have a publicly known location or venue.

Two people with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie on Thursday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. ESPN was the first to report the news.

[lawrence-related id=596671]

The longtime face of Bellator, where he was a three-time champ, Chandler (22-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) entered free agency and signed with the UFC in late 2020. At UFC 257 in January, he made his promotional debut with an impressive first-round TKO win over Dan Hooker.

A member of the roster since 2010, Oliveira (30-8 MMA, 18-8 UFC) enters his first title fight on the most successful run of his UFC tenure. Oliveira has won eight consecutive fights, including victories over Jim Miller, Kevin Lee and, most recently, Tony Ferguson at UFC 256 in December.

With the addition, the UFC 262 lineup includes:

  • Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Tony Ferguson
  • Jamie Pickett vs. Jordan Wright
  • Priscila Cachoeira vs. Gina Mazany
  • Viviane Araujo vs. Katlyn Chookagian
  • Alex Perez vs. Matt Schnell
  • Andrea Lee vs. Antonina Shevchenko
  • Edson Barboza vs. Shane Burgos

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqvpne7c1q486dvv player_id=none image=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Dana White: UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov is ‘officially retired’

Khabib Nurmagomedov has finally convinced UFC president Dana White that his fighting career is over.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] finally has convinced UFC president Dana White that his fighting career is over.

Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) first announced he was retiring from MMA competition following his lightweight title defense over Justin Gaethje last October at UFC 254. Citing the fallout of the death of his father and coach, Abdulmanap, as well as a promise to his mother, “The Eagle” declared his was done.

The announcement didn’t persuade everyone, though. White was insistent Nurmagomedov should continue fighting, and in the months since has made his pitch in meetings, through the media and more. In the end, however, it was to no avail.

White took to social media on Thursday and, after what appears to be another meeting with Nurmagomedov, said the undefeated Dagestani is “officially retired.”

White shared the news in a caption posted alongside a photo with Nurmagomedov (via Twitter):

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.

Shortly after that announcement, MMA Junkie confirmed that the UFC will proceed with a lightweight title fight between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira, which will headline UFC 262 on May 15.

Rafael dos Anjos responds to Islam Makhachev’s callout, willing to fight – with one condition

Rafael dos Anjos is happy to oblige to Islam Makhachev’s callout, but only if it leads to one thing.

[autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] is happy to oblige to [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s callout, but only if it leads to one thing.

Dos Anjos (31-13 MMA, 19-11 UFC) and Makhachev have been on a collision course on multiple occasions, but the fight never has materialized. The pair were scheduled to face off at UFC 254, but a positive COVID-19 test forced dos Anjos to withdraw. They were then rebooked for UFC Fight Night 182, but it was Makhachev who was forced out due to injury. Dos Anjos ended up facing Paul Felder instead and beat “The Irish Dragon” in a “Fight of the Night” effort.

Makhachev (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) returned at UFC 259 this past Saturday and submitted Drew Dober to extend his winning streak to seven. He called out Tony Ferguson, but with Ferguson uninterested, he has pivoted his attention to a rebooking with dos Anjos.

While dos Anjos has his mind on higher-ranked opponents, he’s willing to face Makhachev under one condition: If he beats him, he gets to rematch UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag].

“If your brother @TeamKhabib fight me after I beat you let’s do it.”

Dos Anjos has recently been campaigning for a rematch with Nurmagomedov. He lost a unanimous decision to “The Eagle” in 2014, but went on to win three straight en route to the lightweight title. The pair never ended up crossing paths again, but with Nurmagomedov’s protege on the rise, dos Anjos hopes a win over Makhachev could lure Nurmagomedov out of retirement.

[vertical-gallery id=326871]

Dana White to meet with Khabib again, let lightweight division unfold before booking title fight

At this point, Dana White’s pursuit to bring Khabib Nurmagomedov out of retirement might never end.

LAS VEGAS – Another meeting between UFC president Dana White and [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] is on the books.

This weekend, White and his lightweight champion will once again meet over dinner to discuss business. According to White, Nurmagomedov – who’s in Las Vegas to corner Islam Makhachev – hasn’t budged on his boss’ pitches to bring him out of retirement, but White isn’t giving up.

For White, the division isn’t being held up by this decision, meaning the pursuit of un-retiring Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) can continue with the Dagestani fighter as UFC champ.

“We’re going to have dinner on Saturday or Sunday and just talk and see,” White said at a UFC 259 pre-fight news conference held Thursday at the UFC Apex. “I think a lot of these fights have to play out in that division. From (No. 9) all the way up to No. 1, they’re incredible fights. You can mix or match them any way you want and they’re really good fights.”

So White’s plans for now are clear. As he continues to try to lure Nurmagomedov back in, he’ll let the rest of the lightweight contenders battle it out in non-title fights. The UFC president isn’t ruling out a bonafide No. 1 contender won’t be the attraction Nurmagomedov needs to return.

“Let some of these play out to see who will fight next for the title,” White said. “I think if Khabib is interested, he’ll take the fight. You don’t see Khabib saying, ‘Leave me alone. Stop asking me.’ So there’s still a chance. That’s the way I look at it.”

[lawrence-related id=592723,592729,592069]

Nurmagomedov, 32, has not competed since UFC 254 in October when he defeated Justin Gaethje by second-round submission. Following the official decision, Nurmagomedov announced his retirement inside the cage, citing a promise to his mother in the wake of his father’s death last summer.

White and Nurmagomedov have met multiple times since then. However, Nurmagomedov hasn’t budged despite White’s tries.

UFC 259 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

[vertical-gallery id=437333]

UFC 259 ‘Embedded,’ No. 4: Khabib Nurmagomedov arrives in Las Vegas

Go behind the scenes with the fourth episode of “Embedded” leading up to UFC 259, which features three title fights atop the card.

The UFC has three championships on the line Saturday.

UFC 259 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

In the UFC 259 main event, middleweight champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (20-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) moves to light heavyweight to challenge champion [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] (27-8 MMA, 10-5 UFC) in an attempt to become a two-division champion. Women’s dual champ [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 13-1 UFC) defends her featherweight title against [autotag]Megan Anderson[/autotag] (10-4 MMA, 3-2 UFC). Also, bantamweight titleholder [autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag] (15-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) makes his first defense against [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag] (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC).

The fourth episode of “Embedded” follows all the big stars who will compete at UFC 259. Here’s the UFC’s description from YouTube:

“Aljamain Sterling works in his garage gym. [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag], Megan Anderson and [autotag]Drew Dober[/autotag] check in; [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] supports [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]. All three UFC 259 champions – Amanda Nunes, Jan Blachowicz and Israel Adesanya – train with their teams.”

Also watch:

[listicle id=591882]

Khabib Nurmagomedov opens up about stresses of life in public eye: ‘It’s very hard to live like this’

Five months after hanging up his gloves, it appears Khabib Nurmagomedov is still content with his decision.

Five months after hanging up his gloves, it appears [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] is still content with his decision.

The UFC lightweight champion has put together an unparalleled resume during his unbeaten run as a mixed martial artist, including submission finishes of Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje, as he cemented himself as one of the most dominant athletes in recent UFC history.

Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) announced his retirement after submitting Gaethje at UFC 254 and hasn’t looked back since, despite Dana White’s apparent persistence in trying to persuade him to return. In an interview with Esquire Middle East, Nurmagomedov opened up about the overwhelming stress and pressure that he continues to deal with, even though he has retired.

“Life in the public eye is very stressful,” Nurmagomedov said. “I would like to live the ordinary life of an ordinary person like I did 10 years ago. But now I have championship belts, from fights won by me. I understood that fame would come along with this, but I did not realize that it would be so difficult. It’s very hard to live like this and I would like to return to the calmness that was before I became famous.”

The passing of Nurmagomedov’s father and mentor Abdulmanap was a major factor in “The Eagle’s” decision to walk away from the sport at his peak. Nurmagomedov promised his mother that he would no longer compete without his father in his corner and would only return if she gave him her blessing.

[lawrence-related id=588321,587327,583952]

But Nurmagomedov explains that it wasn’t just the stress of being a public figure that took a toll on him, it was also his rigorous training schedule.

“Every day I woke up in the morning and started training, and in the evening my body was exhausted because I had brought it to the limit,” Nurmagomedov said. “I just want to live a life in which I can get at least a little sleep before lunchtime, to live for myself and not devote myself 100 percent to sports.”

Nurmagomedov may have walked away from MMA, but he’s constantly on the mats with his training partners. While he doesn’t have any intentions of becoming a coach like his father, he’s happy to help his teammates whenever they need him.

“Now that I’m not going to train any more, I have people close to me—brothers and friends—who are now fighting at the highest level,” Nurmagomedov said. “There are about five or six people who we are building the path with, and I will help them, train with them, share my experiences. To some extent, this can be called a coaching life, but I am not going to fully enter into coaching. I will always be there and share my experience.”

But, despite his comments suggesting that his career has come to a close, he refused to fully close the door on the prospect of a return to the octagon, “I think only time will answer this question. We will see,” he said.

[vertical-gallery id=437333]

[listicle id=561270]