Khabib met with the former UFC owner.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has retired from mixed martial arts following his dominant title defense against Justin Gaethje in 2020. Since then, Dana White has constantly badgered the lightweight star into taking his decision back and returning to competition. He also stated that Khabib is officially still the champion.
Khabib has repeatedly denied he will ever return, but has things changed? The Dagestani star teased a return on social media, posing for a photo with the former UFC owner in Lorenzo Fertitta.
“It was good to see you Lorenzo,” Khabib wrote. “Dana White send me location.”
It was good to see you Lorenzo @danawhite send me location pic.twitter.com/JChChJSCqR
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 17, 2021
Will White finally get his wish? For what it’s worth, Fertitta has been known as a good mediator and previously managed to get various deals done, when White couldn’t in the past. That was mostly during the days when he still owned the UFC though.
So the question is, did Khabib tease a comeback because he really changed his mind, or was it simply to tease and troll the insanely persistent UFC President?
I guess we’ll find out soon enough, but it’s worth noting that after each attempt of White, Khabib has constantly held firm and repeatedly told the UFC to move on. Just last month, he downplayed any significance to upcoming meetings in Las Vegas.
“We meet every time I’m there,” Nurmagomedov explained of his Vegas trip. “It’s just been hyped up too much recently, and I don’t like it. When I’m in Vegas, we always see each other for tea or dinner.
“I let Dana know that I don’t want to hold (the division) up. I had my word. I achieved everything I wanted in this sport.”