Former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has announced he’s stepping away from all forms of MMA
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s recent decision to step away from mixed martial arts likely means that he won’t be in his friend and training partner Islam Makhachev’s corner for his UFC 284 lightweight title defense against Alexander Volkanovski, according to his manager Rizvan Magomedov.
It was revealed in recent days that former UFC champion Nurmagomedov, who retired in 2020 from active competition with an unblemished 29-0 record, was to step away entirely from mixed martial arts after stating his desire to spend more time with his family.
Since retiring from his in-cage career, Nurmagomedov embarked on a blossoming coaching career, with his students going an impressive 19-2 in 2022 – including world title wins for Makhachev as well as for his cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov.
The timing of Khabib’s announcement had led to questions as to whether or not he would be cageside of Makhachev’s first title defense against UFC featherweight champion and pound-for-pound king Volkanovski, which tops the UFC 284 bill on February 11 in Perth, Australia.
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But according to his manager Rizvan Magomedov, it is unlikely that Khabib will be on hand to assist his longtime colleague.
“I think he made it clear and it was such a balanced decision that he approached for a long time,” Magomedov told Match TV, when probed if Khabib would be traveling down under next month.