After Khabib Nurmagomedov known as time on his octagon profession, consideration has turned to what the UFC legend does subsequent – and Russia’s boxing chief has steered he has the reply.
Khabib submitted Justin Gaethje within the second spherical of their light-weight title struggle at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi final weekend, earlier than instantly breaking down in tears and asserting he was strolling away from the octagon.
The 32-year-old star revealed that he was honoring a vow he had made to his mom earlier than the struggle that he would now not compete following the loss of life of his father and coach Abdulmanap again in July.
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Khabib – who claimed Gaethje as his 29th sufferer in an unblemished MMA profession, and at last ascended to the highest of the UFC pound-for-pound rankings this week – has since proven no signal of reversing his choice to hold up his gloves.
Arriving again in Russia, Khabib mentioned he was effectively conscious he might proceed on a profitable monitor within the UFC, however that he wouldn’t be tempted again by promotion boss Dana White.
“In fact Dana needs me to proceed preventing and generate income,” mentioned ‘The Eagle’.
”[But] I can generate profits myself. I’m on the peak of my profession and might struggle for very giant purses, however I made this choice, and I feel that is the perfect time.
🇷🇺 Khabib returns to Russia, says he's the #1 pound-for-pound fighter… mission achieved! #UFC254 pic.twitter.com/JxnbpGmPNx
— RT Sport (on Battle Island🌴) (@RTSportNews) October 27, 2020
“Not everybody can retire at their peak, however I do know that in a yr, two or 5 (years) I’d should face that call once more. I did sufficient within the sport to be thought of the perfect.
“At the moment, I used to be ranked because the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter, so the mission is achieved. What else is there to do? Make cash? I’ll all the time have the ability to do this.”
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As for what comes subsequent, Russian Boxing Federation chief Umar Kremlev has mentioned the group could be able to step in to supply Khabib a charity or exhibition bout, ought to he want to step between the ropes.
“I respect Khabib, he is a fantastic sportsman, I am going to all the time help him,” Kremlev mentioned.
“As for his choice (to retire), he left fantastically, undefeated.
“A charity or exhibition boxing bout? If he needs that, we’re prepared to prepare it.”
Kremlev has beforehand supplied to host a boxing match between Khabib and American icon Floyd Mayweather Jr, saying again in October of 2018 – when discuss of a crossover contest with the American first surfaced following Khabib’s victory over Conor McGregor – that he might placed on an occasion in entrance of 100,000 followers in Moscow.
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That type of hypothesis is prone to be reignited now that Khabib has stepped away from the octagon, though it is unclear how it could sq. with the Dagestani star’s vow to his household to not compete.
A charity bout might enable him to make an exception, and would little doubt be a blockbuster earner presumably even to trump former UFC nemesis Conor McGregor’s money-spinning showdown with Mayweather in Las Vegas in the summertime of 2017.
