"I have to be ready" - Khabib Nurmagomedov teases huge announcement for July

Khabib Nurmagomedov has been rather quiet since putting an end to his time as a fighter and coach in mixed martial arts to focus on his family, but he has today raised a lot of eyebrows with a huge announcement.

'The Eagle' has always had the backing of the Russian and Muslim MMA fanbase but rose to worldwide fame when he earned a dominant submission victory over Conor McGregor in 2018. Although he was a big draw prior, it was his win over the Irishman that propelled him to global status just two years before his retirement.

In a post on social media, Khabib Nurmagomedov showcased himself running on a treadmill and revealed to his fans that he is preparing for something big in July, though he shut down rumors of a potential MMA return.

Although not much has been given away aside from the fact that he is doing cardio to prepare for the July event, fans have begun speculating that a return to combat sports could be in the pipeline, even if MMA isn't an option.

If the Dagestani will be competing in some type of combat, this will be the first time he has done so since his triangle choke submission victory over Justin Gaethje two and a half years ago.

While fans weren't aware, Khabib headed into UFC 254 knowing it would be his final walk to the octagon. Despite secretly dealing with the added pressure against an opponent as deadly as 'The Highlight', the superstar performed as if it was any other fight, showcasing that he is truly a once-in-a-lifetime athlete.

---

Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement: Why did the lightweight king call an end to his MMA career?

Khabib Nurmagomedov was the UFC lightweight champion, the #1 pound-for-pound star in the sport, and started to cement his name in the greatest of all-time talks before making the shocking announcement of his retirement in October 2020.

The fan-favorite just secured his 13th win inside the octagon and extended his record to 29-0 before taking off his gloves and bringing an end to his time as a competitive mixed martial artist for good.

In an emotional speech, Khabib told the world of a promise he made to his mother following the passing of his father, a promise he has kept until this day of never fighting without the legendary Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov by his side.