UFC: Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘officially’ retires, says ‘I hope you’ll accept my decision and understand’
- UFC president Dana White thanks former lightweight champ in social media post, writing ‘enjoy whatever is next my friend’
- Promotion confirms Michael Chandler will fight Charles Oliveira for vacant title at UFC 262 in May
Dana White has finally given up his seeming lost cause of convincing Khabib Nurmagomedov to come back to the Octagon for one last fight, with the UFC president confirming his lightweight champ has called it quits.
The UFC president had dinner with the Russian in Las Vegas on Thursday night, and posted a picture of them together on Twitter saying “29-0 it is … he is [100 emoji] officially retired”.
“Thank you for EVERYTHING and enjoy whatever is next my friend,” White added, with the UFC quickly announcing No 4 lightweight Michael Chandler (22-5) will fight third-ranked Charles Oliveira (30-8, one no contest) for the vacant 155-pound title at UFC 262 in May.
“It was a good dinner with some great people,” the 32-year-old Russian Nurmagomedov later wrote in an Instagram post.
“@danawhite thank you so much brother and the entire @ufc team for the opportunity to prove myself, you guys have changed many live forever because of this sport,” he added.