Khabib Nurmagomedov responded to a social media post claiming he retired because of money, stating that finances were not the reason he ended his fighting career. The former UFC lightweight champion made the clarification in reaction to a publication in a public page. Khabib retired undefeated at 29-0 in 2020 following the death of his father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. He has since become a successful coach and businessman. The post from Igor Kak Dela channel shared Khabib's brief rebuttal but provided no additional details about what specifically prompted his response or what alternative reasons he gave for retirement. Khabib's legacy remains intact as one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has pushed back against claims that money was the driving force behind his retirement from mixed martial arts, addressing the suggestion directly in response to a social media post.
The former UFC lightweight champion, who retired in October 2020 with a perfect 29-0-0 record, made clear that financial considerations played no role in his decision to walk away from competition. His retirement came in the wake of the death of his father and longtime coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, a loss widely understood to have been the defining factor in Khabib's choice to step away. The Igor Kak Dela channel shared his brief rebuttal, though no further elaboration on his stated reasons was provided alongside it.
Nurmagomedov, now 37 and representing Fightspirit Team, built one of the most statistically dominant careers in UFC history before hanging up his gloves. The Russian fighter, standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, operated out of an orthodox stance and was particularly feared for his elite grappling. He averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career and landed 4.1 significant strikes per minute, finishing with a striking accuracy of 48 percent. Since retiring, he has transitioned into coaching and business ventures with considerable success.
Why it matters
- Khabib's undefeated legacy is a frequent topic of public discussion, making any statement from him about his career newsworthy
- His clarification pushes back on a narrative that could diminish the deeply personal circumstances surrounding his retirement
- As an influential figure in the lightweight division's history, his public comments continue to carry weight in MMA discourse
