KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV has doubled down on his retirement – insisting the promise he made to his mum means “everything” to him.
The former dominant lightweight champion called time on his mixed martial arts career after submitting Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 two years ago.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from mixed martial arts in October 2020GETTY
The Eagle has refused to break the vow he made to his mum and return to the cageGETTY
GETTYBitter rival Conor McGregor has tried to goad Nurmagomedov out of retirement several times[/caption]
Nurmagomedov, 34, retired at the peak of his powers after promising his mother he’d call it a day following the passing of his late father, Abdulmanap.
But the Russian wrecking machine is content with his life outside of fighting, saying during a recent Q&A: “I finished my career because I promised my mother [I’d stop].
“That’s why this one question, this discussion between my and mother became very famous.
“But we have a lot of different things that people don’t know about. I follow not only this promise to my mother, I follow everything about my mother.
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“Because you can have friends or kids or whatever you want, you’re never going to have one more mother.
“You only have one mother. For me, it’s everything.”
Bitter rival Conor McGregor has goaded Nurmagomedov over his retirement numerous times over the last two years.
And the former two-division champion did so again this week after hearing his former foe utilise one of his well-known phrases.
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A fired-up Notorious tweeted: “I fight on!
“Your fathers plan is never complete because you quit and ran, brother.
“God bless. I’m still here if you want to go again. But your fear of defeat means you’ve already lost.
“Run from it all you want. We all lose in the end. Death takes us all. I fear nothing but God.”
Nurmagomedov drew the ire of McGregor by saying of his team’s recent successes: “I hear [a] long time ago when one guy was talking about, ‘We’re here to take over.’
“But we here to take over.”