Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father claims his son will retire from the sport of MMA very soon

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father believes his son will retire from the sport of mixed martial arts sometime next year.

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s father and longtime coach, spoke to Russian tabloid Life.ru at Ramzan Kadyrov’s WFCA 34 event in Moscow where he revealed the following (via Bloody Elbow):

“I dont want to upset any fans but Khabib is 28 years old and by 30 he has to finish his career,” Abdulmanap explained (h/t Egemen Birben for translation). “I’ve never voiced this opinion before, didn’t talk about it to anyone. But I’m afraid he’s got left 1.5 years.”

Khabib’s father explained that he wants his son to remain healthy both mentally and physically and added that Khabib would be better served to help develop younger Russian fighters once he hits the age of thirty.

“I want him as a healthy, thinking person. I want him to develop other fighters. In such a big sport, a career between 24-30 years old is enough.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov will look to capture the UFC’s interim lightweight title this Saturday night in Las Vegas when he squares off with Tony Ferguson in the co-main event of UFC 209.

“The Eagle” was most recently seen in action at November’s historic UFC 205 event in New York, where he dominated perennial contender Michael Johnson finishing “The Menace” via third-round submission (kimura).

If Khabib is able to emerge victorious against Tony Ferguson at next weekend’s UFC 209 event, it is expected that his next fight would be a title unification bout against current lightweight champion Conor McGregor.

Which fights do you want to see “The Eagle” partake in before retiring at the tender age of thirty? Sound off PENN Nation!

February 26/2017