Khabib Nurmagomedov Announces Retirement Following UFC 254 Win

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has retired from MMA. Following his second-round submission win over interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, Nurmagomedov announced that this would be his last fight in MMA. You can view a clip of him announcing his retirement after the fight and his post-fight interview below.

In the headlining bout of UFC 254, Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Gaethje via triangle choke at 1:34 Round 2. He revealed after the bout that he gave his mother his word that this would be his last fight. Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, tragically passed away at 58 years old last July.

He also performed the process of taking his gloves off and leaving them in the cage, a custom for fighters who have fought their last fight. Nurmagomedov said the following in his post fight interview:

Thank you for these guys, these guys with me, been with my father for more than 10 years. All my team, AKA with coach Javier, I love him so much, all my team. Today, I want to say, this was my last fight. No way am I going to come here without my father. It was first time, after what happened with my father, when UFC called me about Justin. I talk with my mother three days, she don’t want that I go fight without father. I promised her, it’s going to be my last fight, and if I give my word, I have to follow this. It was my last fight here.

I know only one thing I want from UFC, you guys have to be me on No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, because I deserve this. UFC undisputed, undefeated lightweight champion, 13-0, 13 in UFC, 29 in all pro MMA career. I think I deserve it. One more thing, I want to say thank you Lorenzo Fertitta, thank you Dana, Hunter, all guys. Thank you so much, and of course I don’t forget about Joe Silva who signed me here in UFC. Joe Silva, thank you. All this UFC team, everybody around the world, this whole pandemic stuff, they are doing great show. Thank you so much Justin. Justin, 2016 I remember when I cut weight, you helped me a lot. Thank you brother. I know you are a great man, I know how you take care of your people. I know a lot of things about of you, because of your parents, because one day, it’s going to happen something. You never know what is going to happen tomorrow, you never know.

Today is my last fight here in UFC. It was my father’s dream. Dustin and Conor are going to fight January, I choke them out, both of them. I’m not interested in this.

Khabib Nurmagomedov ends his MMA career at 29-0 and 13-0 in the UFC, and he remains the undefeated UFC lightweight champion. He defended his UFC lightweight title three times, beating Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje in back-to-back fights. His other signature UFC fights include victories over Al Iaquinta for the vacant UFC lightweight title, Edson Barboza, Michael Johnson, and Rafael dos Anjos.

UFC 254 was held earlier today at the Flash Forum on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The fight card was broadcast live via pay-per-view on ESPN+. You can check out 411’s full recap of the event HERE.