Nurmagomedov on retirement promise: "You have only one mother"

Khabib Nurmagomedov reflected on his promise to his mother to never fight again. His promise was reflective of his overall values and perspective on the importance of family.

Many people remember his post-fight interview after UFC 254 in which he announced his retirement and referenced a conversation with his mother. His last fight was against Justin Gaethje just a few months after his father, who had also been his trainer, passed away.

“Today, I want to say, it was my last fight and [there’s] no way I’m gonna come here without my father [Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov]… After what happened with my father, when UFC called me about Justin [Gaethje], I talk with my mother [for] three days. She don’t know how I go fight without father but I promise her, it’s gonna be my last fight and if I give my word, I have to follow this.”

At a Class A events conversation held in Toronto, Nurmagomedov talked about the importance of his relationship with his mother.

“Because of I finish my career, because I promise mother, that’s why this one question, discussion between me and my mother become very famous,” Nurmagomedov said. “But we had a lot of different things people don’t know about this. Not only this promise. I follow not only this promise to my mother. I follow everything about Mother. You can have friends or kids, whatever. You can have whatever you want, but you’re never going to have one more mother. You have only one mother. For me, it’s everything. For me, it’s everything.”

Family has always been important to Nurmagomedov. His father coached him until his death in 2020. He credits his success to his parents.

“I love mother because of millions and millions of reason,” Nurmagomedov said. “I know even in Dagestan, this is not about Dagestan, but I know a lot of people have bad relationship with parents. I really, really don’t understand this. How can people have bad relationship with parents? Yes, mother, for me, is everything. Even now, she is still with me, like living with me in same house. I treat her like queen.”

TRENDING