Dana White: Khabib fighting again never die

UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov retired after defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 on October 24, 2020, citing a promise he made to his mother. UFC president Dana White has kept “The Eagle” as champion, and there are multiple signs that that’s not just wishful thinking. Nurmagomedov remains in the USADA testing pool, and his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, in November posted a message on Twitter – “30-0.”

Nurmagomedov appeared in person at UFC 257 with the explicit plan that he would watch the event and if he saw a worthy challenger and fight once more if he did, fulfilling his father Abdulmanap’s longtime plan to retire at 30-0. Despite Dustin Poirier defeating Conor McGregor in the main event, and Michael Chandler having an epic league debut in the co-main, the champ saw nothing sufficiently inspiring.

But the fight for one more fight continues unabated, as White made clear at a UFC 258 pre-fight media scrum.

I believe, I truly believe this—he can say whatever he wants, Khabib can say whatever he wants, I believe that if the right – if this thing plays out – the right guy, however the fight happens – he’ll fight him,” said White. “I believe that. I truly believe that.

And you know it too Khabib, said White, addressing the champ directly through the camera. I know you know it. I can see it in his face when we talk. I know. You just, you don’t go your whole life – and be an incredible competitor, like this guy is – and then one day just say, ‘Alright that’s it.’ Right before 30-0 and he’s gonna say, ‘Alright, I just don’t have that competitive spirit anymore?’ I’m not buying it.

Until Khabib says, ‘Leave me alone! Leave me alone, stop asking me. I’m done.’ He’s not saying that is he? Is he saying that?

Hey, Khabib’s not meeting with me for no reason. He would say, ‘There’s no need to meet. What’s the point in having a meeting? Love ya, it’s been great. Thank you, but we don’t need to meet. You know my answer.’ He hasn’t said that, has he?

He hates Conor McGregor so bad, tThe hate that these two have is as real as anything you have ever seen. And I believe that if Conor came out of this thing, and Conor was going to be the guy to win the title? Now I truly believe that he would fight Conor. I believe that. Maybe I’m wrong, but we’ll see how it all plays out.

UG, how do you think it plays out? Is White right, and we see Nurmadomedov fighting again. Or Is Ramazan Rabadanov, commentator and friend of the Nurmagomedov family, correct when he says Khabib is just holding out until Islam Makhachev gets as close as possible to the title, so the belt can be passed on to a comrade?