Khabib Nurmagomedov officially declared his retirement from the octagon after his 29th professional win at UFC 254 over Justin Gaethje on fight Island.
A legacy like no other! Thank you @TeamKhabib #UFC254 pic.twitter.com/GGqpGjJluR
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
UFC 254 was his night
He stepped into the cage and dominated from bell to bell. Watching the fight, it seemed as if the outcome was inevitable. Nurmagomedov was stalking Gaethje waiting for his moment to find his bread and butter takedown. He was also striking with his opponent as well,showing that he was well-rounded and prepared.
In the first round, Gaethje was saved by the bell, with Nurmagomedov securing the takedown too late. Immediately as the second round began, ‘The Eagle’ was back chasing the takedown and eventually grappling his way into a triangle choke finish.
Going into the bout with Gaethje there were questions. Is this the fight Khabib finally meets his match? Well, all MMA fans witnessed it live, he didn’t.
His Dominance
When you google the word dominance, the only thing that should come up is a list of Khabib wins. This man truly has no equal in the MMA cage and all fans have seen that. Khabib had no easy fights. When you list his notable victories, the likes of Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor and Edson Barboza are all well respected in their own rights. There are only a small group of men and women who get to touch UFC gold. There are an even smaller group that retire undefeated while holding the belt. 29-0 is going to be very hard to beat.
His Legacy
As he leaves his gloves in the Octagon for the final time we should not only remember his fighting performances but his character as a person. The way he carried himself pre-fight and post-fight as well. Showing respect throughout. He wasn’t one to trash talk. He didn’t need it. His performances spoke for themselves. After his fight with Poirier, he committed to donating to ”The Good Fight Foundation,” which is Poirier’s personal charity. He let his fists and his technique do the talking. That’s a very classic way to carry yourself.
His Ending
We don’t truly know what the future holds for Khabib Nurmagomedov. He could change his mind after a night of rest. Although the way he speaks it seems his word is his bond so we can just assume that this is his final MMA fight. What a way to end it to put a stamp on his legacy. In his final fight securing an amazing finish. Speaking for MMA fans around the world we say thank you and Good luck on your future endeavors Khabib Nurmagomedov.
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