Khabib Nurmagomedov Tells Dana White He's 'Levels Above' Everyone

Dana White's attempts to get Khabib Nurmagomedov to come out of retirement look to have failed, with the UFC lightweight champion claiming he is 'levels above' the rest of the division.

Khabib retired in October, after defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, but UFC president White has been attempting to get the Russian to reverse his decision.

Earlier in the week White claimed that the undefeated champion was waiting to be impressed by one of the four lightweights fighting at UFC 257 on Saturday night, Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor, Dan Hooker and Michael Chandler.

Poirier certainly impressed most people by stopping McGregor in the main event, stopping the Irishman in the second round, to make him the most likely person to fight Khabib should he return, in a rematch from their 2019 meeting.

However White seemed to put an end to any hopes of that in the post match press conference. The UFC chief claimed Khabib has told him he's 'levels above' everyone else.

White again reiterated that the undefeated Russian doesn't want to hold up the division and it's actually his fault for not stripping the champion of his title.

In the past the UFC boss has been quick to strip fighters who retire of their belts, with Henry Cejudo having his flyweight and bantamweight belts taken from him very quickly after his shock retirement in May last year.

With Khabib it's been different, as he desperately attempts to get the Eagle to come back for one final fight, that certainly doesn't seem likely now.

Khabib forced Poirier to submit in 2019. Image: PA Images

Poirier wasn't the only lightweight to impress on Saturday night, former Bellator champion Michael Chandler made his UFC debut with a first round stoppage against Dan Hooker.

The 34-year-old called out Khabib, Poirier and McGregor in his post fight interview in the octagon, and doubled down on the Russian in the press conference.

White had suggested that a fight between Poirier and Chandler for the title was potentially the fight to make after both men won on Saturday.

However Poirier, who beat Hooker in a fight of the year candidate last year, said he wasn't convinced that Chandler had earned the right to fight him after one win.

Who do you think should fight for the title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Topics: Conor Mcgregor, Dustin Poirier, UFC News, MMA News, Michael Chandler, Dan Hooker, UFC 257, UFC, MMA, Dana White

Ryan Sidle

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