Even five years on from his MMA retirement, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov continues to be the subject of comeback talk.
Nurmagomedov hung up his gloves as UFC lightweight champion in 2020, ending his career with a perfect 29-0 record and widely regarded as the division’s greatest of all time.
His final fight came at UFC 254, where Nurmagomedov submitted Justin Gaethje before retiring inside the Octagon. Ever since, ‘The Eagle’ has remained firm on his decision, which was spurred by his mother’s desire not to see him compete without his late father in the corner.
But while hope of a return has largely dwindled, one of Nurmagomedov’s longtime rivals is among those continuing to raise the question. And he even thinks one recent revelation regarding a historic UFC event could provide a legitimate spark to light a comeback.
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Tony Ferguson proposes long-awaited Khabib Nurmagomedov clash at the White House
During a recent interview with MMA Crazy while in London for the Misfits Boxing 22 press conference, Tony Ferguson once again brought up his long-standing rivalry with Nurmagomedov.
The pair’s clash is widely regarded as the greatest fight that got away in the UFC, with their matchup incredibly falling through five times due to physical and health issues on the side of both men.
The Dagestani’s retirement did little to quell Ferguson’s pursuit of him and trash talk — nor has his recent exit from the UFC.
In his latest remarks on the topic, ‘El Cucuy’ pointed to Donald Trump’s plan for a UFC White House event, theorizing that such a huge occasion could be something Nurmagomedov is finally willing to return for.
“Look, I would fight Khabib at the White House,” Ferguson said.
“I guarantee you, maybe that is something that he would want to do.
“His pops did say that the only fight to make was me,” Ferguson continued. “I’ll see him sooner or later.”
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Khabib Nurmagomedov still gets constant comeback offers
While Ferguson’s proposal for a White House showdown is no doubt the first of its kind for Nurmagomedov, ‘El Cucuy’ is far from the only man still pushing to bring ‘The Eagle’ back.
During a recent appearance on Adam Zubayraev’s Hustle Show, Nurmagomedov said he still receives frequent return offers, particularly in the grappling realm.
“They keep offering me grappling,” the legendary former UFC champion said. “Yeah, grappling offers all the time.
“There wasn’t anyone. They had no opponents. “They said, ‘If you agree, we’ll find an opponent for you.’
“Never even thought about it (accepting a comeback offer),” he added.