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Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov picked up the 29th win of his MMA career in October 2020 against Justin Gaethje. Not only did he extend his undefeated streak but also his legacy, executing his third submission win in lightweight title fights, a UFC record.
However, 'The Eagle' broke down in tears as soon as the fight got over. Having entered the octagon one last time in memory of his late father, Khabib decided to retire from the sport.
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After many attempts by UFC president Dana White failed to bring him back, March 2021 marked the official retirement of Khabib Nurmagomedov. However, there remains some hope for his comeback. His coach Javier Mendez, who shares a special bond with 'The Eagle', revealed that Khabib wishes to make a comeback.
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The Dagestani fighter has often stated that he has promised his mother that, with his father gone, he would never fight again. The only thing Khabib Nurmagomedov would need to return to the octagon, therefore, is his mother's permission.
5 opponents for Khabib Nurmagomedov's potential comeback fight:
#5 - Kamaru Usman
As time has passed, many fantasy match-ups have pitted Khabib Nurmagomedov against UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Even MMA experts are busy analyzing and calculating which one would rise victorious in this epic clash between two of the greatest UFC fighters.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired as the undefeated and undisputed UFC lightweight champion apart from being the number one pound-for-pound fighter. Meanwhile, 'The Nigerian Nightmare' is being dubbed one of the greatest welterweight fighters in the organization's history. He is currently the number two UFC pound-for-pound fighter, reigning champion, and hasn't been beaten in 19 previous fights (undefeated in the UFC).
Both fighters have strong wrestling backgrounds and have proven their mettle in the striking department as well. The bout could be arranged at catchweight, or maybe Khabib could be convinced to climb up a division. Regardless, they would match up excellently well, stylistically.
If Khabib Nurmagomedov makes a comeback to the UFC, a match-up against Kamaru Usman will blow up the company records. When asked about the prospects of a potential Kamaru Usman vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov fight, the Nigerian acknowledged "it would be the biggest fight in UFC history."
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Also read: 5 reasons why Kamaru Usman could defeat Khabib Nurmagomedov
#4 - Georges St-Pierre
Former UFC two-division champion and one of the greatest MMA fighters ever, Georges St-Pierre, is right up Khabib Nurmagomedov's alley. In fact, 'Rush' is the Dagestani fighter's idol of sorts. 'The Eagle' has gone on record multiple times to say that he looks up to St-Pierre and wants to fight the MMA legend. Ahead of his fight against Justin Gaethje, Khabib said:
"Regarding Georges St-Pierre, that fight really inspires me. It was my father's dream fight. I really want to fight him. But time passes. Georges St-Pierre will be 40 next year. I think he has to decide whether we'll fight or not. I want that fight. Dana (White) told me that after this fight (UFC 254), they (UFC) will take to St-Pierre. If he agrees, we'll fight. Both I and the UFC want that to happen."
Georges St-Pierre's last fight was in 2017 against Michael Bisping for the UFC middleweight title. St-Pierre vacated his title around a month after defeating 'The Count', citing a medical condition. He officially retired from the sport in 2019. However, 'Rush' has also expressed his wish to return to the UFC. The three-time former UFC champion said he didn't want to fight for the belt but his legacy.
When faced with the prospect of facing Khabib Nurmagomedov, Georges St-Pierre said:
"It was an opportunity of a lifetime to fight a guy (like Khabib) who’s undefeated, who’s never been beat and I could have been the first. I don’t know.. when I train, I still get it. I’m very confident. If you would ask right during training or before training, ‘hey would you like to fight again?’ I would be like ‘yeah, let’s do it. I’m down.’ Then after I go home and everything.. and the adrenaline calms down and you ask me 'would you like to fight' and I’m like 'I don’t know, I’m not sure about it.'"
Khabib Nurmagomedov's comeback would fulfill all of Georges St-Pierre's requirements for a return, too. But, above all, it would be a clash of titans for the ages.
Also read: 3 reasons Georges St-Pierre returning to the UFC makes more sense now than ever
#3 - Tony Ferguson
If there was one fighter in the UFC lightweight division who was backed to give Khabib Nurmagomedov a run for his money, it was Tony Ferguson. The two fighters were scheduled to face each other at least five times by the UFC. However, the bouts were always canceled, with either of the two pulling out due to injuries and other reasons.
At UFC 249, Khabib Nurmagomedov was scheduled to face 'El Cucuy' for his title defense. However, 'The Eagle' pulled out of the bout, citing the inability to travel amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tony Ferguson is a black belt in jiu-jitsu, a Muay Thai practitioner, and has a crazy endurance that could be compared to that of Khabib Nurmagomedov. The two fighters are stylistically very similar, which is why the face-off between the two is a guaranteed blockbuster. If Khabib does return to the UFC following permission from his mother, Dana White should not waste any time before getting these two booked.
#2 - Charles Oliveira
Charles Oliveira is another MMA veteran who also happens to be an excellent grappler and striker with a strong cardio routine. 'Do Bronx', a jiu-jitsu black belt, defeated Michael Chandler at UFC 262 to become the reigning UFC lightweight champion. He will be a special opponent for Khabib Nurmagomedov, considering the Brazilian is the first to get his hands on the very title 'The Eagle' vacated.
Currently on a nine-fight winning streak, Charles Oliveira has acquired a lot of fame and respect in the UFC. He has defeated MMA veterans of all styles in the recent past to prove his dominance, including Tony Ferguson.
If Khabib Nurmagomedov makes a comeback in the UFC, what better opponent to face him than the new lightweight king? It would be a treat to see the war unfurl between the two in the grappling department with a few episodes of striking.
#1 - Conor McGregor
One would think that following the madness that took place at UFC 229, things would finally settle between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. McGregor offering prayers to Khabib after the death of his father, Abdulmanap, seemed like a moment of truce between the two rivals.
However, 'Notorious' has long returned to his wicked ways of insulting Khabib Nurmagomedov, even after the Dagestani wrestler's retirement. Despite getting 'smashed' at UFC 229, Conor McGregor has not yielded weapons in his war against Khabib Nurmagomedov. Dedicating a post to his much-celebrated rival, Conor wrote:
"Happy retirement kid, smell ya later. Never forget who came in the game and made ye. Straight from my big Irish balls. Remember folks, if you hate cutting weight so much, all you have to do is move up a division. God bless.."
Khabib Nurmagomedov reignited his rivalry with Conor McGregor after the Irishman got TKO'd by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. 'The Eagle' blamed Conor for not staying loyal to his coaching team and paying the ultimate price for it. 'Notorious' obviously found the comments in bad taste and said:
"That's the character of the man for sure, behind the mask. What's he (Khabib) want to do? Does he want to come back or no? Cause he's not throwing no leg kicks."
If and when Khabib Nurmagomedov makes a comeback in the UFC, a rematch against old foe Conor McGregor would be the first thing Dana White would probably look to do. Especially considering it could be even bigger than their first encounter, which remains the UFC's highest-selling PPV event to date.
