Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov gives a press conference in Moscow on November 26, 2018. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Khabib Nurmagomedov is still visible in the UFC as a cornerman for cousin Umar at UFC Fight Night but he’s now contented with being a coach rather than a fighter.
In an interview with Sport24, h/t MMAFighting.com, the now retired World lightweight champion said he has no plans of fighting despite what UFC President Dana White implied after their meeting.
Nurmagomedov, who also has business ventures to attend to including his Eagles Fighting Championship, stressed that he’d rather enjoy his time away from the sport than make promises of a return.
“If we talk about all my business projects, I have so much to do that is planned and fights are not in these plans,” said Nurmagomedov as per the interview’s translation.
“I train for myself. the biggest thing that gives me pleasure is training. I enjoy when I wrestle, run, spar, work on pads, when I work on the punch bags, this is what I have been doing all my life and I will continue to train constantly as well.”
“But if we talk about the fights, they are not part of my plans.”
Another reason why Nurmagodemov is not keen on returning is his promise to his mother.
Nurmagodemov was also extremely close to his father and trainer Abdulmanap who passed away in July 2020 due to COVID-19.
“My mother is the most precious thing that I have left. Come on, you don’t want me to do things that will disappoint my mother,” said Nurmagomedov.
‘DON’T TORMENT ME’
White previously said that Nurmagomedov would return to the sport if Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, the main venters of UFC 257, “can do something special.”
Nurmagomedov, however, disputed those statements and is satisfied with his post-fighting life.
“I don’t have any plans for the UFC in the near future. I don’t even have any thoughts about preparing for the fight,” said Nurmagomedov. “Don’t torment me, let me enjoy what I have for today, and just so you know I’ve sacrificed a lot to get to this level. I’m not bragging, it’s just that people don’t know a lot of things.”