Khabib Denies Dana’s Retirement Tall Tale
It’s been nearly six years since Khabib Nurmagomedov’s final UFC appearance. “The Eagle” walked away on top like few others, reigning Lightweight champion and undefeated after 29 professional bouts. Despite his clear intention to retire, UFC CEO Dana White made multiple offers for another bout and waited roughly six months to formally vacate the 155-pound […]
Nevada , United States - 4 October 2018; President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship Dana White, right, with Khabib Nurmagomedov during a press conference for UFC 229 at the Park Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images) | Sportsfile via Getty Images It’s been nearly six years since Khabib Nurmagomedov’s final UFC appearance . “The Eagle” walked away on top like few others, reigning Lightweight champion and undefeated after 29 professional bouts.
Despite his clear intention to retire, UFC CEO Dana White made multiple offers for another bout and waited roughly six months to formally vacate the 155-pound title. In a recent interview, White offered an interesting explanation to Khabib’s retirement and his inability to lure him back to the Octagon: too much money! 💰Dana White says Khabib stopped fighting because he made so much money on Muslim world tour "He hit Saudi, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and they rained money on him.
He made so much money that he didn’t have to fight anymore" via Prince St Pizza pic. twitter. com/cfc3RIAvhG — Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) May 20, 2026 On Wednesday, Nurmagomedov publicly denied this explanation on social media.
“Sometimes I read these headlines, and I am not a fan of giving my commentaries to every nonsense on the internet, but when Dana talks, the news spread fast,” Khabib wrote on his Instagram story (via Home Of Fight ). “I’II say this: I swear by Allah this is an absolute lie. Nobody ever gave me those millions, and it’s also not true that I left the sport because I made a lot of money.