One photo perfectly encapsulates the beauty of MMA as Justin Gaethje consoles Khabib Nurmagomedov in the Octagon
- The photo below perfectly encapsulates the beauty of mixed martial arts.
- Justin Gaethje consoled Nurmagomedov when he was crying, even though Khabib had just choked him unconscious at UFC 254.
- Gaethje put his arm around Nurmagomedov who then got on the microphone and announced an abrupt retirement from combat sports.
- The UFC boss Dana White later told the MMA media that Nurmagomedov is the "baddest mother f----- on the planet."
FIGHT ISLAND — The photo above perfectly encapsulates the beauty of MMA, as Justin Gaethje consoled Khabib Nurmagomedov in the middle of the UFC Octagon after UFC 254 on Saturday.
The challenger, Gaethje, had only just regained his senses as Nurmagomedov had sent him to sleep with a second-round triangle choke at the behind-closed-doors Fight Island festival in Abu Dhabi.
But rather than dwell on the agony of defeat, Gaethje went over to Nurmagomedov who was crying on all fours.
Gaethje knew his opponent was likely weeping having won his first fight since his father and trainer Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov died after coronavirus complications aged 57 in July.
And so the 155-pound American striker put his arm around Nurmagomedov, who later threw his MMA gloves on the floor, and got on the microphone to announce an abrupt retirement from combat sports.
"This is my last fight," Nurmagomedov said. "No way I'm going to come here without my father."
The UFC President Dana White called Nurmagomedov "the baddest mother f----- on the planet" at the post-fight press conference Insider attended.
White told the media that Nurmagomedov was apparently in hospital three weeks ago with broken toes and a broken bone in his foot.
The UFC boss finished by saying he believes Nurmagomedov will stay retired, bowing out from the fight game with an unbeaten record of 29 wins from 29 fights (eight knockouts, 11 submissions, and 10 decisions).
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