Khabib Nurmagomedov is arguably one of the biggest names in UFC history. The Russian fighter dominated the lightweight division for years on his way to the title. And ultimately, retired at the top of his game with an incredible 29-0 record. So as we mark three years to the day he retired, we look back at his last fight against Justin Gaethje.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov made a name for himself thanks to his unparalleled hard work and immense skill. The former champion dominated every opponent he faced in the octagon. And he is most famous for his rivalry with Conor McGregor.
3 Years Ago, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s $6 Million Retirement Fight Stunned MMA World
Revisiting the last fight of Khabib Nurmagomedov against Justin Gaethje
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje met on October 24, 2020. They headlined a stacked UFC 254 card on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. And after weeks of excitement, the fight lived up to the hype. However, unsurprisingly, Nurmagomedov dominated Gaethje and submitted him.
What surprised many fans was what Nurmagomedov did after the fight. The fight against Gaethje showed Khabib Nurmagomedov still had it in him to dominate the division for years to come. However, he shocked the combat sports world by announcing his retirement.
The Russian said he promised his mother he would never compete without his father in his corner. And Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father and trainer Abdulmanap passed away a few months before Nurmagomedov took on Gaethje.
Despite his early retirement, Nurmagomedov made more than enough money to last him a while. For the fight against Gaethje at UFC 254, the Russian earned a reported $6 million. However, this is not even his biggest payday. Nurmagomedov earned over $20 million for his fight against Conor McGregor. Therefore, we can be sure that his early retirement did not affect him in monetary terms.
Since his retirement three years ago, Nurmagomedov has turned his attention to coaching. And the Russian has played an active role in the rise of Islam Makhachev. Although he no longer features in Makhachev’s corner during fights, Nurmagomedov is ever-present in the fight camp.
Do you think Khabib Nurmagomedov retired too early? Would you like to see him make a comeback to the sport?
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