UFC lightweight champion Khabin Nurmagomedov spoke recently with Ilya Trifanov for the Russian language Match TV in a wide-ranging interview, including, naturally, whether he will fight again.
“Dana White and I are constantly in touch, we did not discuss the moment about the vacancy of the belt,” said Khabib, via Google Translate. “I think this is due to the fact that the organization really wants me to resume my career. This is understandable – I spent nine years in the league, I had a lot of fights, became the champion, defended the title, never lost, I have a huge fan base from all over the world.
“My performances are already a kind of history. The desire of the UFC is understandable to me, I don’t blame them. I will not hide [that they are trying to] persuade me to return. There is nothing surprising. They offer conditions, fighters – but this is hard to surprise me, they have no one to offer me. Soon, in a couple of weeks, we will meet with Dana and discuss.”
Khabib was asked if there is a chance we will see him in the Octagon again.
“I would not want that,” he replied.
Khabib was asked if there was someone they could offer that would motivate him to return.
“Perhaps with Muhammad Ali,” he answered. “But, unfortunately, he is no longer with us.”
And Khabib was asked who he thinks will get the belt after him.
“The winner of the Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier match,” he said, “I think they will fight for the belt.”
When Khabib retired he said he had promised his mother the Gaethe fight would be his last.
“To be honest, we somehow did not even discuss it, but she was delighted,” said Khabib. “She did not watch the last fight live – she reviewed it in the recording, knowing the result. But she always watched everything – it became difficult in the last couple of years.”
Nurmagomedov’s record is a perfect 29-0; he was asked to name the toughest one.
“I didn’t have easy fights,” he replied. “Maybe from the outside it seemed so. But the hardest was in 2012, when I was 24. It was a fight against Gleison Tibao. Then he was on a good winning streak, was in the top 15 best lightweights in the world. This fight was difficult both emotionally and physically.”
But he regards the most important fight as neck cranking Conor McGregor at Conor McGregor at UFC 229.
“October 6, 2018,” he said. “Then we proved to the whole world that I, my team, our whole country – we can compete at the highest level. After that, life changed, received a lot of attention. Almost the whole world watched our fight. We even broke the record of the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia. About 15 years ago it was impossible to believe in it.
“For me, the result was in the first place. But on my part, there was also a promotion – I was present there, drove weight, entered the cage, ended the fight, forcing him to tap the mat.”
So how is he prioritizing his time, between his Eagles MMA promotion, a farm, and family.
“I myself grew up in the village, looked after both the cows at home and the bulls,” he replied. “We had a field where we grew tomatoes – then they sold them. All this is very close to me, so I want to do it – I don’t know at what level. The beginning is already there.
“But I try to devote the most time to my family. I would like even more [children]. Everything is possible.
“I train every day, keep fit – I have been doing this all my life. I don’t want to quit training and I cannot. I don’t want to be overweight, I have to look like an athlete.”
Despite Khabib’s remarks, he remains in the USADA testing pool. When he does, it will be a surer sign that he’s not just MMA retired.
