Four years ago, Khabib Nurmagomedov shocked the MMA world by retiring undefeated at 29-0, leaving behind an untouchable legacy in the UFC octagon. The Dagestani legend walked away at the peak of his dominance, driven by the heartbreaking loss of his father, his lifelong coach and cornerstone. For fans, his exit felt premature, a void that still fuels their desperate calls for “The Eagle” to return.

Recently, Khabib’s coach, Javier Mendez, reignited the hype with a throwback video from 2019, filmed at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California. The clip captures Khabib sharpening his striking through intense shadowboxing. Mendez, egging him on, shouts, “Floyd Mayweather, here we come!” Khabib, with a sly grin, fires back, “Why not?” Though it seemed like playful banter, Khabib’s fierce competitive spirit suggests he’d leap at the chance to face the boxing icon, even in a ring where takedowns aren’t allowed. Mendez, however, cheekily reminded him of the rules.

Khabib reposted the video on his story, sparking a wildfire of nostalgia among fans, who flooded the comments with one unified plea: “Bring Khabib back!” But this wasn’t just a casual moment. It harks back to 2018, when Khabib boldly called out Mayweather after his record-breaking victory over Conor McGregor.

Fresh off dominating McGregor, Khabib was riding high. At a boxing event, he confronted Mayweather’s manager, Leonard Ellerbe, with a direct challenge: “Let’s go, Floyd! 50-0 vs. 27-0, two guys who never lose!” Brimming with confidence, Khabib declared himself the true “King of the Jungle,” boasting, “He couldn’t drop McGregor, but I did it easily!” His starstruck smile and embrace with Ellerbe hinted at a staged moment, but the challenge was real.

Could this rekindled spark mean Khabib is eyeing a comeback? The MMA world is buzzing, and fans are ready for “The Eagle” to soar again.