WATCH: Khabib Nurmagomedov Sends a Message to Brazilian Fans After Announcing Retirement at UFC 254

Khabib Nurmagomedov sent a heartfelt message to his fans out in Brazil alongside legendary former Brazilian champion Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira. ‘The Eagle’ was captured on a video grab posted by MMA Fighting’s Guilherme Cruz who’s been covering Brazilian MMA in depth. Nurmagomedov’s impact and fan following can be seen through the use of his platform when speaking out. The video came out following his massive win at UFC 254.

Chiefly, fans of the Russian fighter, will be well aware of his love for soccer as seen through his association with Cristiano Ronaldo. Not to mention, he was spotted at the 2018 FIFA World Cup that was hosted in Russia. Through Khabib’s extensive knowledge of Brazilian footballers, it’s clear that he’s a die-hard fanatic.

Khabib Nurmagomedov: A career defined

The 29-0 fighter put forth one of the most dominant title fight displays in UFC history in his recent title defense. Khabib Nurmagomedov choked out Justin Gaethje in the second round via a lethal triangle choke. Additionally, he’s now the only fighter to secure three straight submission wins in UFC title fights.

The writing was on the wall for Justin Gaethje, as he wasn’t able to keep up with the insane pressure that the champion was putting on. Moreover, ‘The Eagle’ wasn’t simply reliant on his threatening wrestling but instead put forth smothering striking pressure. This showcased a new dimension to his overall game and put more weight on the fact that he retired.

Khabib Nurmagomedov laid down his gloves inside the octagon and was extremely emotional after his win. He has decided to walk away from the sport, despite the fact that he’s on top of his game. Khabib has proven himself on multiple occasions and has lost just two rounds inside the promotion.

The lightweight division is now in need of a new champion, and there’s certainly no deficit of contenders. Chiefly, several lightweight fighters who have fallen to the Russian champion will now have an opportunity to crack away at gold. It is unclear whether Khabib will follow through on his decision to permanently retire. He’s just 32-years-old and hasn’t absorbed much damage.