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'Not going to retire': UFC boss' massive Khabib admission

Khabib Nurmagomedov (pictured) after his bout with Justin Gaethje.
UFC boss Dana White believes we could see Khabib Nurmagomedov (pictured) back in the octagon. (Getty IMages)

Former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov stunned the fighting world when he announced his retirement after defending his belt at UFC 254, but Dana White does not think that the champ has called it quits.

Khabib returned to the cage for the first time in over a year last Sunday, submitting Justin Gaethje to defend his lightweight title.

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The undefeated champ then broke down in tears in the middle of the octagon as he soaked up his victory, before dropping the bombshell news that he’s retiring.

“This was my last fight,” he said.

“No way I can come here without my father. When UFC call me with Justin, I talk with my mother for three days.

“I promise it will be my last fight. If I give my word, I have to follow this.”

Despite the UFC world going into meltdown after one of the greatest of all time, Khabib, called time on his career, UFC boss White doesn’t think it’s over for the Dagestani.

"Khabib and I have been talking. He was completely emotional that night when he got through that fight. I have a feeling that he might go for 30-0,” White said on CBS Sports Radio.

“I do. I think that he’s not going to retire. His dad wanted to him to get to 30-0. I think he wants to honour his dad’s wish.”

White coy on potential Khabib plans

When prodded by Zach Gelb about talks of having “something special” planned for Nurmagomedov in the run-up to UFC 254, White was coy about what he had planned next for UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighter:

“I haven’t even told him that because he was going to retire. I haven’t even said it to him. I’m not going to say anything publicly,” he added.

Notably, White didn’t deny that something special was in the works. And it’s not hard to guess who that something might be.

It’s almost certainly Georges St-Pierre.

with Jack Baer - Yahoo Sport US

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