UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov appears to have poured cold water on an MMA return insisting his "flame has gone out" for the sport.
Nurmagomedov is considered one of the most dominant fighters to ever grace the sport retiring as an undefeated champion back in 2020 from his stint in the UFC. His final fight came with another submission win over Justin Gaethje two years ago, which saw him linked to a whole host of fights including against Conor McGregor before he elected to retire.
The Russian star has been training his protege Islam Makhachev for this weekend's UFC 280 title clash against Charles Oliveira at the Etihad Arena, as he continues to help bring through the next generation. And despite being linked with a future clash against the Brazilian if he beats his fellow countryman, Nurmagomedov has insisted that it is unlikely he will return.
'Maybe it is because the flame inside of me went out," Nurmagomedov told UFC Russia when asked if MMA had declined since his retirement. "But I do think there has been a dip in MMA and there has certainly been a decline recently but that is my viewpoint and everyone has their different opinions.
"I think the flame went out a little and there was a decline. The UFC's PR machine is strong and there will always be stars. Say what you will but they have created a powerful machine in the last 30 years but I don't wake up early to watch fights anymore. Other than for Kamaru Usman I don't wake up for fights."
Some of the sport's leading stars including Nurmagomedov, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones and Nurmagomedov's former rival McGregor are currently out of action with the latter two expected to return following stints away from the octagon. The 34-year-old is currently working on coaching the next generation with several fighters coming through via his promotional label Eagles FC.
Would you like to see Khabib Nurmagomedov return to the UFC? Let us know in the comments section below
Makhachev's upcoming opponent Oliveira has suggested that he can be the one to reignite Nurmagomedov's career and draw him back into the octagon for a mega fight. However Nurmagomedov honoured a promise to his mother that he would retire at the age of 32 following the death of his father Abdulmanap.
And he has revealed that no talks have been held over any potential return in the future, despite suggestions UFC president Dana White has attempted to convince him to return. "You have to take into account why I left," he continued. "I had personal reasons for doing so.
"They had to do with my family, my father but of course I could have continued. People forget that, they think I left to negotiate a better contract, to negotiate more money for my return, that's not what happened, it was a concrete decision and I see no way how that can change, at least not now."
