UFC president Dana White says that if superstar lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov attempts to retire with a professional record of 30-0, that he would allow him to choose his final opponent,
Nurmagomedov (28-0) has not said much publicly since the death of his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov earlier this month due to heart complications.
According to his manager Ali Abdelaziz, Nurmagomedov intends to face interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje before the end of 2020.
A win in that fight would bring his record to 29-0, and Abdelaziz has publicly said that Nurmagomedov would then set his sights on going 30-0 before officially retiring.
White spoke about the pending retirement on Monday.
“At the end of the day, the Conor McGregor [rematch], I know Conor has wanted that fight since the last one [in October 2018],” White said, according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. “That’s a fight to make, but I don’t know. We’ll see how this plays out. Sure, [I would be open to St-Pierre] if it’s his last fight. This guy’s been great to the company, great to the sport. I like Khabib a lot. I would do anything Khabib wanted to do.”
Nurmagomedov has expressed interest in a fight against Georges St-Pierre, whom he and his father have immense respect for.
“We tried to organize the fight,” St-Pierre said. “I know Khabib wanted it and I wanted it, but the UFC has other plans.”
