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Khabib Nurmagomedov has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts after successfully defending his UFC lightweight title against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
Nurmagomedov extended his unbeaten record to 29-0 with a second round submission win in Abu Dhabi, his third successful title defense, having previously beaten Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier.
It was also the Russian’s first fight without his father and coach, Abdulmanap, who died of complications caused by the coronavirus earlier this year.
In an emotional post-fight interview, Nurmagomedov said: “Today I want to say that this is my last fight.
“There’s no way I’m going to come here without my dad. When UFC talks to me about Justin [Gaethje] I spoke with my mother for three days.
“She didn’t want me to fight without my father. I promised her this was going to be my last fight and if I give her my word, I have to move on with this.
“There is only one thing I want from the UFC, to make me the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world because I deserve it.”
Nurmagomedov first claimed the UFC lightweight title with a points decision victory over Al Iaquinta in 2018 before defending the title against McGregor in Las Vegas later that year.
McGregor took to social media on Saturday to congratulate Nurmagomedov on beating Gaethje and confirmed that he would continue in the sport, even without the prospect of a rematch with the Russian.
“Good performance @TeamKhabib,” McGregor wrote on Twitter.
“I’ll move on. Respect and condolences to your father again as well. To you and your family. Sincerely, The McGregors.”
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