Nurmagomedov says he has 'nothing to prove' after UFC retirement

Khabib Nurmagomedov says he has ‘nothing to prove’ and ‘does not need money fights’ following UFC retirement as undefeated Dagestani reveals the strength of his promise to his mother will override any temptation to return to the Octagon

  • Khabib Nurmagomedov has insisted he has ‘nothing to prove’ in the UFC 
  • The Dagestani announced he has no plans to U-turn from his retirement decision 
  • Nurmagomedov cited a vow to his mother as reason for his exit from the sport 
  • The 32-year-old said he will not be tempted back to the UFC by ‘money fights’ 

Khabib Nurmagomedov has insisted he has ‘nothing to prove’ following his UFC retirement as the undefeated Dagestani said the strength of his relationship with his mother overpowers any temptation to return to the octagon. 

The former lightweight champion announced his retirement at UFC 254 last October, citing a vow to his mother that he would no longer compete following the death of his father, Abdulmanap, to coronavirus.

UFC supremo Dana White had hoped to lure Nurmagomedov back to the octagon, with hopes that a rematch with Conor McGregor could be on the cards ahead of the Irishman’s bout with Dustin Poirier in January.

Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed why he has decided not to U-turn on retirement plans

The undefeated Dagestani called time on his sensational career after his win at UFC 254

However, those plans were scuppered when Poirier clinched a sensational knockout victory, with Nurmagomedov telling White none of his rivals are anywhere near his ‘level’. 

The Dagestani announced over the weekend that he would not be returning, with White conceding defeat in his bid to bring Nurmagomedov back. 

The Eagle, who has won all 29 of his professional fights, explained that his respect for his mother overrides any desire to return. 

UFC supremo Dana White (L) had hoped to lure Nurmagomedov (R) back to the octagon

However, the Dagestani announced over the weekend that he will not return to the sport

White conceded defeat in his bid to tempt the former lightweight champion back to the UFC

‘It’s very hard when you have power, when you’re the best in the world, when you’re famous, and you have money, and say to everything, no.,’ he told UFC Vegas 22 post-fight show.

‘This is very hard. People may never understand me, but I really hope they’re going to support my decision. Because everybody has their views and my view, my relationship with my mother, I feel like I have to stop. 

‘Because I feel like in every fight, in my every training camp, everything takes some age from my mother. And you know, it’s like, what else do I have to do? I came to this sport to show how I am, to become the best. 

‘I’m the world champion, I’m pound-for-pound number one, I defend my title three times, I won the biggest fight in UFC history. What else? Only money and only money fights, but I don’t need money fights.’ 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=nXIAvhvSLFo%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1

Nurmagomedov said he has ‘nothing to prove’ and does not need to take ‘money fights’

He added that his promise to his mother not to fight is stronger than his desire to return

Nurmagomedov has completed a remarkable journey from wrestling bears in the mountains of Dagestan to becoming the UFC’s biggest star. The 32-year-old insisted that he has nothing left to prove. 

‘It’s like everything what we did with my father since I was a kid. Like when I began training on mats, in my village, inside the house. When father put me wrestling with a bear, when I told him “hey, this bear tried to bite me” and I remember when told me “bite him back, no problem, you have to wrestle, you have to keep going.” 

‘Then I become world champion combat sambo. I become two-time world champion combat sambo. Then I have 16-0 [record] outside the UFC. Then the UFC signs me and I have a 13 [fight] win streak, become a world champion, everything. 

Khabib’s father and mixed martial arts mentor, Abdulmanap (L) died from coronavirus last year 

‘I’m very happy about all my journey. Right now, I feel I don’t have nothing to prove, to show people who I am. I do everything in this sport. I feel I don’t need to do nothing. 

‘Two days ago, when I talk with Dana, I tell him everything that I feel and he said he’s going to support me anyways. I’m very happy about this.’

Nurmagomedov was octagon-side for this weekend’s UFC Vegas action, with Derek Brunson defeating Kevin Holland in the main event. The Dagestani is hoping to help his countrymen ascend to the top of the UFC, namely Islam Makhachev, who Khabib predicts will become lightweight champion by early 2022.  




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