UFC boss Dana White says he'll push Khabib Nurmagomedov to break his retirement and fight again
- Khabib Nurmagomedov is going to meet Dana White in the UAE this week.
- The UFC boss White has already said that he's going to press Nurmagomedov hard to break his retirement and return to the Octagon for at least one more match.
- Conor McGregor fights Dustin Poirier in front of a partial fan allowance at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi on January 23.
- If McGregor beats Poirier in style, it will likely heighten demand for a rematch with Nurmagomedov — and that's a fight White really wants to see.
FIGHT ISLAND - UFC boss Dana White says he'll press Khabib Nurmagomedov to break his retirement and fight once again.
Nurmagomedov, the current UFC lightweight champion, last fought in October when he slept Justin Gaethje in the second round.
He then dropped to his knees to mourn the death of his father, left his MMA gloves on the canvas, and issued an abrupt, emotional, and dramatic retirement statement.
It brought an end to the most extraordinary run in combat sports as Nurmagomedov is unbeaten after 29 pro matches - a record that includes wins over Rafael dos Anjos, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje.
Because of how Nurmagomedov has dominated one of the toughest divisions in the sport, White wants to bring him back into the mix.
"I'm obviously meeting with him because I think that he should fight again," White told ESPN on Sunday.
"Look at what he did to Justin Gaethje. Look at what he's done to every opponent he has faced. I think he should fight again, and I'm going to press him as hard as I can for one more."
White wants Nurmagomedov to fight 10 more times but will settle for one comeback
Nurmagomedov has spent the new year in Dubai where he has sharpened his boxing skills, played soccer with the four-time UEFA Champions League winner Clarence Seedorf, and had a feast prepared by the internet-famous Turkish chef and restaurateur Burak Ozdemir.
In the coming days, Nurmagomedov will meet White - likely in Abu Dhabi, where UFC is hosting its third installment of Fight Island.
White told ESPN he'd love to see the Russian wrestler compete 10 more times in his promotion, but will settle for just one comeback.
"As a promoter, you always want to see the best guys in the world, but at the same time, when a guy wants to retire, he probably should.
"The difference with a guy like Khabib is he's been through so much, and losing his dad was a major blow to him. Yet, his dad wanted him to hit 30-0."
White still wants to see Nurmagomedov fight McGregor again
McGregor remains one of the few athletes to achieve two-weight champion status in the UFC, and should he excel against Poirier, one of the best lightweights in the world, it will heighten demand for a rematch with Nurmagomedov.
"No matter what you think of Conor personally, Conor McGregor is not only one of the best in the world, but one of the best to ever do it.
"And right now, he's as focused as he's ever been," White said.
"I don't know if this is going to be the same Conor after the Poirier fight, but if this Conor sticks around for the next year, how do you not do Khabib vs. Conor again?"
McGregor fights Poirier on January 23 in the winter Fight Island finale at the newly-built 18,000 capacity Etihad Arena.
The event, UFC 257, will be the first since early 2020 to be attended by fans, with a small number allowed into the arena. It isn't known how many fans will attend, but tickets to the show are already sold-out.
Nurmagomedov's cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov, competes against Sergey Morozov in a bantamweight match in the preliminary section of UFC 257, and Khabib will likely be in attendance to support his family.
He may well stick around for the main event, too.
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