“The motivation is gone.” Khabib Nurmagomedov is retiring from MMA – what does it mean

Khabib Nurmagomedov posted a photo of his team on social media on Thursday after the meeting and captioned the photo as follows: “Take care my brothers. I hope my decision will only be beneficial, I hugged you all. Thank you, you were a big reason for my success in sports.” Later, the “Ask Rasul” telegram channel reported that Khabib was leaving MMA. As an athlete, Nurmagomedov ended his career at the fall 2020. As a trainer and second, he appeared at Usman Nurmagomedov’s fight on November 18, 2022. I was also at my league tournament in Atyrau on December 10.

In 2022, Nurmagomedov ostensibly published some photographs taken in Russia and Dagestan in particular.

– Kamil, how do you perceive the words “Take care of yourselves, brothers. I hope my decision will only be beneficial, I hug you all.

– Khabib is not expressed literally. This can be interpreted in different ways, but my main conclusion from what I read is: “My friends, don’t take me now as a figure in the MMA industry. I’m starting to do other things .” This is how I would translate Khabib’s words.

Why did you come to this conclusion? With all Khabib’s desire, if any, to leave the MMA industry…the industry won’t let him go anywhere. There is too much of him in her and his bond with her is too great. He has a number of top performing fighters. The most obvious example is Islam Makhachev. And the fight between Makhachev and Volkanovski will somehow be associated with Khabib, with his predictions, statements. Also, Khabib will definitely appear in Australia. Will he also actively participate in the training process? From what I’ve heard, probably not. It probably means, “Guys, don’t expect me in the lobby every day, but I’ll come to the fight.”

Eagle FC organization, which for us is linked to Khabib. He was the leader of this organization, but he didn’t take a very deep part in the tournaments. He came to key tournaments, which was important for those who organize these tournaments. Will he continue to attend these tournaments? Some will, some won’t. He will constantly be asked questions related to MMA. Will he answer them? I think so, but the number of his interviews will decrease.

I think what he means is not that he is no longer involved in MMA, but that he is no longer an MMA figure in the first place. So, we will soon hear about Khabib in other activities.

– Khabib writes a message, then the Telegram channel specifies that Nurmagomedov is retiring from MMA. Who do you trust the most in this situation?

– His message could be understood as a kind of farewell. The “Ask Rasul” channel can, in theory, have some sort of insider. I admit it, but it seems to me that this is only a conclusion drawn from Khabib’s messages, but the conclusion is certainly premature. There will be fewer Khabibs in the MMA industry. In other classes it will be more. It is unavoidable, because he has already passed the scope of the industry and belongs to the category of people who undertake new things and are ready to devote themselves to these new things. I think business and social activities are probably Khabib’s new positioning.

– We have the feeling that in terms of skills and knowledge he is an ideal coach, and in terms of interest – No?

– Totally agree. The thing is, he had a certain mission. At first it was to become the first UFC champion from Russia, to prove the strength of her father’s school, the Russian school of Dagestan. We remember Khabib’s father said that Islam would be next. For Khabib, it was fundamental to take this problem to its logical conclusion and impose a light belt on himself. There is no more motivation. I no longer see any meaningful motivation for Khabib. Winning a belt in weight? And how will it be different from what has already been. He is fully accomplished as an athlete and as a coach. What else could Khabib have to motivate all of his students to win belts? It’s a kind of endless race that has no finish line. There is nothing in MMA that would interest Khabib.

If he hadn’t won the belt of Islam, of course, he would have once heard: “Khabib, you are a great champion, but you have no followers, you could not teach anyone. ” Now, no one can say that.

– Could it be that Khabib is in the fighter’s corner for the last time in the fight between Makhachev and Volkanovski in Australia?

– I do not know. There are still emotions – when Usman Nurmagomedov or Umar Nurmagomedov (first cousins. – “”) will fight, and Khabib will be in the hall, will he basically not go around the corner with these guys -the? It will always fit. It’s a question of positioning – who are you? If you are a person who periodically visits some MMA tournaments where people close to you fight, yes. This is how you decorate the tournament. And to make him a conveyor, when Khabib is in the corner every time, it seems to me that it is no longer his level. He thus devalues ​​the very fact of his appearance. Let’s take better advantage of the fact that he comes twice a year, and these tournaments will become special.