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Khabib Nurmagomedov On Retirement Rumours: "I’m Not Ready To Leave Yet"

Khabib Nurmagomedov On Retirement Rumours: "I’m Not Ready To Leave Yet"

The lightweight champion returns to the Octagon at UFC 242.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Khabib Nurmagomedov has shrugged off retirement rumours by claiming he's "not ready to leave" the UFC just yet.

The 30-year-old will defend his UFC lightweight title this weekend in Abu Dhabi and he has no plans to retire anytime soon.

"I'm not ready to leave yet," said the 27-0 Russian fighter. "Yes, I'm not a young fighter, I'm defending my belt for the second time, and I don't have many fights left.

"I don't want to fight when I'm 40. But to make a decision about leaving, I will need to talk with the team, discuss this with my father; I won't make this decision alone."

Image: PA
Image: PA

Nurmagomedov faces Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in a lightweight unification showdown and he intends to stick around the 155lbs division while explaining his disinterest in taking bouts outside of his weight class.

"I think if you want to improve your legacy by changing weight classes, I don't think this is help for you," he added.

"Only one thing helps for you. You have to beat up-and-comers. What about when you beat tough opponents and you're still undefeated more than the others. I think this is going to improve your legacy.

"If you lose couple times and you win one title, second title, you lose again, and then you win third title, this does not make you great. My opinion, when you're undefeated long time and you never lose, this is when it's real thing.

"When you go to the cage and again, again, again, you win, win, win, win, that helps to talk about 'this guy is tough'. I don't focus on welterweight or featherweight, my focus is the lightweight division.

"I'm a real lightweight and my fights are going to be in the lightweight division. I don't want to change any weight classes. I want to focus on my weight division."

Nurmagomedov hasn't fought since his submission victory over Conor McGregor last October, but he makes his anticipated return to the Octagon on Saturday.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor Mcgregor, Dustin Poirier, UFC 242, UFC News, Fight News, UFC, MMA

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Darren Till, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

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