Khabib Nurmagomedov Explains It Was Easy For Him To Walk Away From Competing, Doesn’t Miss It

Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov explains that he does not miss competing in MMA.

Khabib Nurmagomedov
Credit: Khabib Nurmagomedov on Instagram

Khabib Nurmagomedov is happy in retirmemt. 

When it comes to the list of greatest UFC fighters ever, Khabib Nurmagomedov can be found on many people’s lists. He is the former UFC lightweight champion and when he finally walked away from the sport a few years ago held an amazing record of 29-0. Although Nurmagomedov’s professional career seemed to end early at just 32 years old, he does not regret the decision. 

Nurmagomedov was at the top of his game and looked unbeatable when he shocked the world and retired from the sport. The announcement came after the unexpected death of his father, who was also his coach. He said at the time that he made a promise to his mother that he would no longer compete and has kept that promise. Immediately following the announcement, UFC president Dana White did everything in his power to persuade him back but nothing worked. 

Khabib Nurmagomedov is enjoying life as a coach and has no desire to return to the cage

Now that his fighting days are over, Nurmagomedov spends his time in a coach/mentor position for his team. He is training the younger generation to follow in his footsteps. However, the fact that he has denied wanting to return on several occasions, has not stopped people from asking. 

“Honestly no [I don’t miss it],” Nurmagomedov told The Muslim Money Guys podcast via MMA Fighting. “When I miss something like competition, I go to the gym and wrestle, grapple, train. I spend my energy there. Like comeback? Go to the cage? No, I don’t miss it.

One of Nurmagomedov’s protégé is Islam Makhachev will be fighting for his first UFC title on Saturday at UFC 280. This sort of success by his team is enough for Nurmagomedov at this point in his life. 

“Because all my life, it was on my hands, not inside my heart. It was never inside my heart. Of course I like it, you have to love what you’re doing. I was a very big fan of sports because my goal was to become the best, to become the champion like everybody has to do. But when I’m finished, I’m finished,” he said. “It’s easy. It’s very easy [to walk away]. If it’s inside your heart, to leave this alone it’s very hard. It was inside my heart. Now finished, I go do other things.”

Nurmagomedov has made himself very successful through fighting. Now he is taking other opportunities to make money without having to actually fight. He has opened his own fight promotion called Eagle FC and is a spokesperson for several different products. 

Published on October 20, 2022 at 10:54 am
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