Khabib Nurmagomedov was set to face Tony Ferguson at UFC 209 to crown a UFC Interim Lightweight Title, but pulled out of the fight due to issues with his weight cut.
Rumors of retirement have started to surround Nurmagomedov following comments from his father, but the fighter insisted that there is no retirement in his future.
“Nobody is trying (to get me to retire),” Nurmagomedov said to MMA Fighting. “I know my father talked about this with Russian media, and U.S. media make, like, different translation. But how I retire if I have to fight for the title? Now, I have very big name, and now, a lot of big fights are coming. How I retire? I no understand, who talk about this? I’m going to fight. First of all, I’m going to fix my body and stay healthy, because the last three years, I don’t remember when I train or when I’m going to fight (and) I’m healthy. I don’t remember this. Because now I’m going to fix everything and come back stronger. But about retiring, I don’t think about this.”
There is no official return date set yet for Nurmagomedov, but he stated he will be returning to action in the late summer.
Nurmagomedov also insisted that a meal he ate during his weight cut didn’t lead to any health issues.
“I no understand why people talk about this,” Nurmagomedov said. “I don’t eat this. We’re going to restaurant and we chill together, everything, but [I was the only one] cutting weight. The other guys, no cutting weight, and everybody eat everything. But I don’t eat any of this stuff. I eat only my food. I no understand why people talk about this. Somebody ordered cake and somebody eat cake — of course somebody eat cake — but I don’t eat nothing. I don’t eat this cake. I did nothing, but I don’t understand why people talk about this.”
The Russian lightweight is currently undefeated as a professional MMA fight, plus he’s ranked #1 in the lightweight division.
