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Undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has opened up the possibility of a return to the Octagon.
Nurmagomedov said to UFC president Dana White that if a fighter does something special in 257, he'll consider returning.
Khabib Nurmagomedov told Dana White yesterday, per White: I’m going to watch the two lightweight fights at 257. If these guys do something spectacular and make me want to come back and fight I’ll fight.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 16, 2021
Nurmagomedov has a chance to go a perfect 30-0 with a win in a potential comeback fight.
In October, Nurmagomedov surprisingly announced his retirement following a second-round submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Leading into that bout, Nurmagomedov was grieving over the death of his father last summer due to COVID-19 complications. Khabib Nurmagomedov's father, Abdulmanap, was also his trainer and closest confidante. Nurmagomedov promised his mother that his fight against Gaethje was going to be his last.
The sports world reacted accordingly, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert noting that Khabib is one of the most dominant fighters he has ever seen.
Khabib is the most dominant fighter i’ve seen. Just unmatched, i thought that today was gonna be his toughest fight but there is just no match. Too good of a wrestler, too tough, too strong.
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) October 24, 2020
Eight of Khabib’s wins were by knockout. 10 were by decision and 11 were by submission. Nurmagomedov became just the sixth fighter with a 13-fight UFC win streak following his win against Gaethje– joining Silva, St-Pierre, Jones, Johnson, and Holloway– already cementing his legacy within the sport.
ESPN ranks Nurmagomedov (29-0) as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Khabib Nurmagomedov owns the longest lightweight title reign in UFC history and is tied for the most UFC lightweight title defenses (3). He has beaten the likes of former champions Gaethje, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Rafael Souza dos Anjos.
