UFC's Khabib Nurmagomedov through the years

Undefeated UFC superstar Khabib announces retirement after win in Abu Dhabi over Gaethje

Last updated: October 25, 2020 | 15:03

2 MIN READ

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UFC superstar Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement on Saturday night after 12 years as a professional MMA fighter.

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The Dagestan native showed promise in eastern Europe beating opponents much older than himself in his early years.

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With his father by his side as coach, he quickly rose through the ranks and moved on to UFC.

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Khabib, who would become the first Muslim to win a UFC title, blitzed through all his rivals with his unique style of grappling and Octagon movement.

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By 2012, he was already being touted as a contender to become UFC's greatest of all time as he began dismissing allcomers.

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He became a glbal household name when he defeated Conor McGregor in 2018 in a controversial fight that saw both fighters banned when a post-fight brawl spilled into the stands.

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Khabib was the toast of Abu Dhabi last year when be clinically destroyed Dustin Poirier to defend his lightweight title.

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And he signed off in style at Yas Island with his second-round stoppage of Justin Gaethje on Saturday night.

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