Khabib: Dana White ‘has something special for me’ after I beat Gaethje

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Bigger things are apparently in the pipeline for Khabib Nurmagomedov if he goes through Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

You can say that undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is a few fights away from officially cleaning out the UFC’s current 155-pound division. But even if he gets through interim titleholder Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, “The Eagle” isn’t looking to call it quits just yet.

When asked about how he sees his immediate future as a professional fighter, the 32-year-old Dagestani wasn’t able to give a definite answer.

“Very good question, honestly – very good question. I don’t know,” Khabib told MMA Fighting during Thursday’s UFC 254 media day. “For example, I’m going to finish Justin Gaethje inside the cage Oct. 24. What else? This is very good question.

“I love competition. I love to compete with the best fighters in the world. That’s why I am here. I’m not in the UFC to make money. I have a lot of business projects outside the UFC, I can make money. Good question. Very good question.

“I don’t think [retirement after this fight]. “We have a couple options. We’re going to think about this after this fight,” he added.

Khabib didn’t really specify what those options are, but UFC president Dana White apparently has something big planned for him if he wins on October 24.

“Dana told me after this fight, he has something special for me,” he said. “But I told him, please keep this, after fight we’re going to talk. He say has very big things after this fight for me. We’ll see.

“Justin is a very tough opponent, very tough guy. He follow his dream. He’s very hungry. He just beat a very tough opponent. I don’t want to underestimate him. I am focused on Oct. 24.”

Manager Ali Abdelaziz bared a little more details about the company’s plans for his superstar client.

For now, we’ll all have to wait and see how UFC 254 goes down.