Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Motorsports
  • Tennis

UFC boss believes Khabib could come out of retirement

by Daily Sabah with Reuters

ISTANBUL Jan 23, 2021 - 1:29 pm GMT+3
Russian UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, speaks after wining against UFC fighter Dustin Poirier during Lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 242, in Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 7, 2019. (AP Photo)
Russian UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov, speaks after wining against UFC fighter Dustin Poirier during Lightweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 242, in Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 7, 2019. (AP Photo)
by Daily Sabah with Reuters Jan 23, 2021 1:29 pm
RECOMMENDED
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman and Los Angeles Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr. go for a loose ball during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, U.S., Jan 29, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Cedi Osman breaks career record at NBA's 'Turkish Culture Night'

NBA

UFC President Dana White continues with his push to convince Khabib Nurmagomedov to return to the Octagon.

Despite repeated claims by Nurmagomedov that he intends to remain retired, White said Friday that he believes the undefeated UFC lightweight champion – who stunned the sport by tearfully retiring after his previous match – "still wants to fight."

White was interviewed by CBS Sports in the wake of Nurmagomedov's denial this week that he intends to come back to fighting nearly three months after suddenly stepping down. And White reportedly believes a return could still happen.

"He's coming out to Vegas and he and I are going to go to dinner," White said, according to MMAJunkie. He said, "The one thing I won't do (is) I will never hold up the division. So if I decide that I'm not gonna fight one of these guys, I'm retired (and) the belt can move on."

"I just feel like he decided to retire under a ton of pressure. His dad just died, he didn't spend time with his family because he was in camp. He got injured and had a hard time cutting weight because of the injury. He goes in, fights the fight and I think he made an emotional decision."

"So we'll see how this thing plays out this weekend."

White's comments come after Nurmagomedov reportedly denied to Sports24 that he had plans to return to fighting.

"I have achieved almost everything in this sport and there isn't someone I would like to fight now," Nurmagomedov said. "A lot of people don't want to understand my side. I don't see that yet. I train for myself. If we talk about all my business projects that are planned, fights are not in these plans."

Meanwhile, in the latest episode of "Dana White: Lookin' For a Fight" on UFC's Youtube channel, White is seen telling Nurmagomedov that Saturday's bout between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier "is trending bigger than the fight with you (Nurmagomedov) and Conor on pay-per-view."

"Imagine what you and Conor would do in another f**king fight? Just saying. I’m just saying," the UFC boss said.

McGregor and Poirier are set to meet in the main event of UFC 257 at Etihad Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In one of the most memorable scenes in mixed martial arts history, the 29-0 Nurmagomedov (13-0 UFC) retired in tears and laid his gloves on the mat following his UFC 254 title defense against Justin Gaethje in October. The match occurred four months after he lost his father and longtime coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, to complications from COVID-19.

Last weekend White publicly echoed his opinion that upon meeting with the 32-year-old Russian native a return to the Octagon was merely a matter of time. This week Nurmagomedov admitted his mother would prefer he didn't fight any longer.

"My mother is the most precious thing I have left," Nurmagomedov said to Sport24. "You won't push me to do things that will disappoint my mother. I don't even have plans for UFC in the near future. I don't even have any thoughts about preparing for a fight."

Still, White added Friday, "I think that he still wants to fight."

RECOMMENDED
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman and Los Angeles Clippers guard Brandon Boston Jr. go for a loose ball during the second half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, U.S., Jan 29, 2023. (Reuters Photo)

Cedi Osman breaks career record at NBA's 'Turkish Culture Night'

NBA
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Jan 23, 2021 2:39 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    ufc mixed martial arts khabib nurmagomedov dana white conor mcgregor dustin poirier
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    The leaders of the opposition bloc pose on stage before presenting the election program, in the capital Ankara, Türkiye, Jan. 30, 2023. (AFP Photo)

    Turkish opposition bloc reveals road map but still no candidate 

    opposition
    A Toyota C-HR Prologue model, which will be manufactured at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Türkiye (TMMT) in the northwestern province of Sakarya, Türkiye. (Courtesy of TMMT)

    Türkiye plant pitched to manufacture new Toyota C-HR plug-in hybrid

    automotive-industry

    Türkiye warns of 'price' if US fails to deliver long-sought fighter jets

    F-16-FIGHTER-JETS

    Finland probing Paludan's links with Russia: FM Haavisto

    nato-membership
    No Image
    Italy's Lake Garda's water levels drop to 15-year low amid drought
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021