Khabib Nurmagomedov Ditches Retirement, Aims For Super Bowl Weekend Return

On the sidelines since a dominant 2014 win over current lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, Khabib Nurmagomedov recently teased retirement after he was forced out of yet another high-profile bout against Tony Ferguson with broken ribs.

It seemed a bit premature the 26-year-old undefeated Dagestani, who is thought to contend for the title if he can only stay healthy enough to show up.

And it appears that’s the case.

News arrived on UFC Tonight this evening from ‘The Eagle’s’ management that Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap told his son that he should not retire until he has won the UFC title, at which point he can reassess his situation. Apparently Khabib is highly obedient to his father and agreed, expressing his love for the fight game (via FOX Sports):

“Fighting is in my blood,” Nurmagomedov said. “It is my life, and this is what I do best in my life.”

Nurmagomedov’s management also told Ariel Helwani that he was looking to rest up and heal before hopefully returning to fight on the UFC’s annual Super Bowl Weekend card. Rising combatant Al Iaquinta was pegged as a return opponent, but that won’t happen after the East Coast native underwent a long put-off knee surgery that should keep him out for around six months.

His management also said that in the future, Nurmagomedov was going to tailor his training camps for him alone.

He had previously trained at San Jose’s heralded American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), an infamous gym known for fighters getting hurt and puling out of fights almost as much as they are for creating championship contenders.

His team apparently wants to be ‘more selfish’ concerning Khabib in the future, so that he stays healthy and focused on his own goals in order to finall makes it to the octagon after a yearlong rivalry with Donald Cerrone fell apart due to a pair of significant knee injuries.

So ‘The Eagle’ is ready to soar back into the octagon sometime soon, at least in spirit. Will fans finally witness his long-awaited return in early 2016?