Mixed martial arts legend Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement, confirming that his match against American Justin Gaethje, Saturday, in the main event of UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was his last fight.
"Today, I want to say this was my last fight, No way I am coming here without my father"" he said after the fight.
Khabib kneeled down and put his head between his hands with tears streaming down his eyes, releasing the burden he had been carrying for the past months, after successfully defending his UFC lightweight title against at UFC 254.
Khabib, 32, submitted Gaethje -whom many suggested would be Nurmagomedov's toughest rival- via triangle choke at 1 minute, 34 seconds of the 2nd round, while fighting with a broken foot Saturday.
His triangle-choke submission finish was only the third ever in UFC title history, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
This was Khabib's first fight since his head coach and father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, died in July of COVID-19.
His mother did not want him to compete after his father's death, but he promised her this would be his last fight.
"I promised her this was gonna be my last fight," he said. "If I give my word, I have to follow this."
He clarified that he has no interest in fighting the winner of a proposed January fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier, saying he has already choked both men out.
After the fight, Khabib thanked the UFC and several top executives, but he had one request. "I know only one thing I want from UFC: You guys have to rank me as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, because I deserve this."
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