Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Justin Gaethje and retired from MMA

Russian lightweight UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov successfully defended the belt at UFC 254 on October 24. Following the epic victory, The Eagle revealed his plan to retire from MMA.

Khabib hangs up the gloves after compiling a record of 29-0

On Saturday, Nurmagomedov faced the interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. The first round of the fight was close. The Eagle controlled the octagon, landed 23 punches and performed a takedown. However, Gaethje threw several big countershots and blocked one grappling attempt. In the second round, Khabib did a leg takedown, mounted Gaethje and submitted him by triangle choke at 1:36.

During the post-fight speech, Nurmagomedov said that he promised his mother to quit after the bout against Gaethje and asked the UFC to place him on the first spot of the P4P rating. Khabib thanked his coach Javier Mendez, UFC president Dana White and Joe Silva, who signed him for the promotion. The Eagle decided to retire because of his father’s tragic death in July caused by COVID-19.

Khabib started his MMA career in 2008 and made his debut in the UFC 4 years later. He secured the vacant UFC lightweight title in 2018 after defeating Al Iaquinta by unanimous decision. In 2 years, Nurmagomedov won by submission three contenders: Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier and Gaethje. The Eagle set a record for the most takedowns in a UFC bout (21) and retired undefeated.