Khabib Nurmagomedov has laughed off his weight gain since retiring from the UFC as the undefeated lightweight world champion.
The Russian was one of the greatest fighters of all time at 155lb, but he appears to be a far cry from that limit now as he turns his attention to coaching.
He was in the corner for top lightweight Islam Makhachev on Saturday night as he handily stopped veteran Bobby Green to extend his UFC winning streak to 10 fights.
And Nurmagomedov has said Green made jokes at his expense over his recent weight gain after the fight, questioning how he ever made lightweight.
“He come to me, he come too close and said, ‘Hey, you was lightweight?’" Nurmagomedov told ESPN after the fight. "Something like this.
“Of course, now I’m big because I’m now like almost two years I’m finished with fights, you know. And I try to enjoy. I try to enjoy.
"But every day I train, I spend time with the guys, why do I have to be a lightweight? I'm finished.”
Nurmagomedov was made a number of offers to go back on his emotional retirement after his October 2020 win over Justin Gaethje, but had no interest in making a return to the octagon.
UFC boss Dana White wanted him to have one last fight to go 30-0 against one of the top lightweights in the division, but there was no fight or amount of money that could convince him to return.
And he was even offered a massive money boxing exhibition against Floyd Mayweather, who opted to face YouTube star Logan Paul when Nurmagomedov turned down the fight.
Makhachev joked after the fight during a TV segment with current welterweight champion Kamaru Usman that if Nurmagomedov were to return, it would likely be in his division, not lightweight.
Usman, who is managed by the same man who takes care of the two Russians Ali Abdelaziz, asked Makhachev how he currently gets on in training with Nurmagomedov.
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And Makhachev responded: "Now, I cannot practice [with him], maybe, you can.
"Now, you are in the same weight division [welterweight], but you have to care about it.
"Maybe, he's going to come back and he is not gonna be at 155, he fights at 170 for sure."
Makhachev is now on a path towards the title that was once held by his close friend and training partner, which he feels he is now ready for.
He is ranked No.4 in the division, and was supposed to face No.3-ranked Beneil Dariush before Green was drafted in after the Iranian fighter was forced out with injury.
The title is currently held by Charles Oliveira, who is expected to make his second defence against No.1 Justin Gaethje in May after defeating No.2 Dustin Poirier in December.
