Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed that he only has a few more years left before he hangs up his gloves for good.
“I think a couple of years,” Nurmagomedov told The Arab News. “Two, three – maximum three. I think maybe two years, in my opinion, because I don’t want to fight all my life because I know it’s very hard. I know a lot of young, hungry guys are coming, and I know to always be undefeated, undisputed, is not almost impossible – I think it’s impossible.
“You can watch in history. If you watch all athletes like soccer, boxing, MMA, everywhere, one day you’re going to lose. You have to know when you need to stop. I think maybe two years.”
Khabib was speaking just weeks after successfully defending his lightweight title with a third round submission victory against Dustin Poirier.
There’s still a number of big fights left for Nurmagomedov, including what’s likely to be his next title defense against Tony Ferguson, while a superfight with Georges St-Pierre is a possibility, along with a rematch against his biggest rival, Conor McGregor.
“Before, I never thought about this – but right now, it’s like I’m almost there. 28-0, and in the next couple of years I’m going to compete because I just (turned) 31. This is not too much for this sport, but for sure I think I’m going to finish (at) 33, 34, it’s going to be done. But right now, I have a couple of years to compete.”
