Khabib Nurmagomedov Announces Retirement After Epic UFC 254 Defeat

23-year-old Khabib Nurmagomedov made a shocking retirement speech Saturday after defeating Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 254. The undefeated Russian mixed martial artist stated post-fight, on-camera, “Today, I wanna say this was my last fight. Ain’t no way I’m going to come here without my father.”

Khabib  also revealed in his statement that prior to his fight against Gaethje, he, “promised her it’s gonna be my last fight.”

“If I give my word, I have to follow this,” he added.

Nurmagomedov’s title defense against Gaethje was his first fight without his father and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who died in July due to complications from COVID-19. Khabib posted a photo of himself posing with his dad on Instagram after his retirement announcement. In the caption he wrote, “When ALLAH with you, nobody can broke you, nobody. Thanks Father for everything, you teach all my life, may ALLAH grant you the highest paradise.”

Khabib Respected Amongst Peers

Many of Nurmagomedov’s peers and fans shared their well wishes and praise to the number one ranked pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world. Conor McGregor tweeted Saturday, “Good performance @TeamKhabib. I will carry on. Respect and condolences on your father again also. To you and your family. Yours sincerely, The McGregors.” Jon Jones also tweeted Saturday, “I want to congratulate Khabib for an outstanding career. I know he made his father along with millions of fans around the world incredibly proud today. May God continue to bless him on his journey.”

UFC Dana White also dubbed Khabib as the “P4P best fighter in the world” and the “G.O.A.T. of the sport.”

Nurmagomedov (29-0) defeated Gaethje with a broken foot at one minute and 34 seconds of the fight’s second round. According to ESPN, Nurmagomedov is listed as the second fighter after Anderson Silva to forge a career in the UFC with 13 straight wins.

InTheZone would like to congratulate Khabib on a tremendously dominant career.