Khabib Nurmagomedov Declares He’s Done Fighting—Fans Will Always Have Champions to Cheer For

Khabib Nurmagomedov has made it crystal clear: there’s absolutely no chance he will return to the octagon. The former undefeated UFC lightweight champion and newly minted Hall of Famer has consistently faced inquiries about a potential comeback, but he firmly squashed those rumors once again.

Since retiring in October 2020 after submitting Justin Gaethje to defend his lightweight title, many fans have speculated about what could have been had “The Eagle” chosen to continue his illustrious career. However, Nurmagomedov believes there’s no need for that; he is focused on ensuring his legacy thrives through his proteges. His commitment is already paying off, as Islam Makhachev has claimed the UFC lightweight title and successfully defended it three times.

“If you guys need champions, I’m helping my brothers to become champions,” Nurmagomedov stated in an interview with iNews. “We have Islam as a champion, we have Umar (Nurmagomedov) as the next contender, we have Usman (Nurmagomedov) as a champion. We have a lot of champions. You guys are never going to miss me because, in our team and our gym, we create champions. You guys are always going to have champions, don’t worry.”

In a separate interview with Ushatayka, Nurmagomedov also mentioned that Makhachev is targeting January for his next title defense. While the opponent remains under wraps, it’s anticipated that he will face Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch, following their decision bout in April 2019.