Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals ALMOST retiring after ‘god’s signal’ before becoming UFC champion
Khabib Nurmagomedov, who went undefeated in 29 career fights, was tipped to do so by his coach and father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
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Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov thrust Khabib towards greatness (Source: IMAGO/X)
UFC’s ex-lightweight kingpin Khabib Nurmagomedov’s year has been a weird one. His friends and comrades continue to find unprecedented success around the globe. However, Nurmagomedov was hit hard with a financial blow from the Russian government. One thing that does not change – is his legacy and Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s part in shaping it.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s title defenses came over notables like Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. His neck crank over McGregor in 2018 is the largest-selling pay-per-view in UFC competition. His highlight win over ‘Human Highlight’ Gaethje won ESPY’s, Submission of the Year, and other awards. Speaking to TNT Sports’ Adam Catterall. Khabib nudged there was a time these matchups never came to be.
It was a very hard time and I remember I was talking with..with my father, ...he said 'maybe this is signal from God you have to stop'. He told me you can not give up...When you have some test you have to show your toughness if you're tough. If you're not tough, you can just give up...and that's it.Khabib Nurmagomedov Live on the ‘Inspire Me’ Podcast – EP 9 with TNT Sports’ Adam Catterall/ ? : @inspiremepodcast on YT
‘The Eagle’ underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. He had already missed over a year due to a torn ACL in his right leg. He won a decision over Rafael dos Anjos, who upset Anthony Pettis to become the new lightweight champion, in his last fight. Yet another rib crack and the Dagestani was on the sidelines. It was his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s reverse psychology at the time, which made him bounce back.
I remember he told me if you wanna go you have to go, if not anyways I'm going to have a UFC champion. With you or without you, I'm going to make someone a UFC champion....this gave me like crazy energy and I just keep going, keep going,...after that what happened, this is all history.Khabib Nurmagomedov further said on the ‘Inspire Me’ Podcast/ ? : @inspiremepodcast on YT
The strategy did work. At 29-0 MMA and 13-0 UFC, Khabib used to be the longest reigning undefeated 155lber in UFC competition. Nurmagomedov subsequently retired as the undefeated UFC lightweight champion. He has since passed the torch to Islam Makhachev who broke the record. Coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov was so entrenched in his rise, that Khabib called quits after his passing. More to it, he was his biggest stimulant despite multiple injuries.
A list of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s major sports injuries
Hall of Famer, Khabib Nurmagomedov has had a loss in his amateur combat sambo career. But in UFC, the lightweight has been a wrestle-heavy reckoning force. However, there were times when his run was stalled due to multiple injuries, a herniated disc, a blown knee, and so on.
Had Khabib stayed on, he would arguably be in the all-time G.O.A.T. candidate conversations. Despite being on top of the undefeated club, he often faced flak for allegedly ducking competition. Tony Ferguson was one such name. During the ‘Inspire Me’ Podcast – EP 9, even ‘Eagle’ lamented the matchup never came to be. He was to fight him on five instances during his career. However, the last blow came when he had to withdraw against Ferguson at the TUF: Season 22 Finale.
Nurmagomedov injured his right knee during sparring in San Jose at his American Kickboxing Academy gym. Khabib was to fight Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone to mark the next 155-pound title challenger on May 23 at UFC 187. After injuring his knee, John Makdessi replaced him. A year prior, he also went under the knife for a back injury, before UFC 178. The biggest altogether rehabilitation and recovery he took was an eight-month out.
| Area | Presumed period | Result on injury | How it happened |
| Lower back | 2014-08-24 | Pulled out of the fight against Donald Cerrone at UFC 178 | Sustained intense grappling injury |
| Right knee | 2014-09-29 | Need for surgery and long recovery time | Torn meniscus during sparring |
| Left rib | 2015-10-29 | Pulled out against Tony Ferguson at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale | Broken rib during grappling |
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