Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, one of the most dominant fighters in mixed martial arts history, says it would take at least six months of intense preparation to even consider a return to the cage.
In a recent interview conducted in Russian and translated by Hustle Show, the 36-year-old undefeated legend explained the physical and mental demands required to return to “fighting shape,” admitting that even a hypothetical comeback would be far from simple.
“You mean fighting shape?” Nurmagomedov said. “No, two to three months wouldn’t be enough. ... I’ll be 37 in two months, in September. If we’re being honest, it would take at least six months.”
Nurmagomedov (29-0) last competed in October 2020 at UFC 254, where he submitted Justin Gaethje in the second round to defend his UFC lightweight title for the third time. He retired immediately after, citing a promise to his mother not to fight again following the death of his father and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
Despite persistent speculation about a potential comeback, Nurmagomedov emphasized that being physically fit is not enough in MMA.
“What matters most is how many sparring rounds he’s done and who he sparred with,” Nurmagomedov said. “Everything else—lifting, fitness, running—it means nothing. Our sport is you step in one-on-one, get in your stance, and you fight.”
Since retiring, Nurmagomedov has remained close to the sport, frequently training and cornering fighters including reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and PFL lightweight titleholder Usman Nurmagomedov.
Though he occasionally wrestles, Nurmagomedov revealed he hasn’t worn gloves or sparred seriously in years.
“Honestly, we don’t really do light sparring,” he said. “You go in, like, ‘We’ll go easy,’ and one hit, boom, that’s it. It’s on. And to be honest, I haven’t put on gloves in five years. But I wrestle. Wherever I am, I always look for someone to grapple with.”
Nurmagomedov also reflected on his ultra-focused mindset during his active career. When preparing for fights, he would isolate himself from all distractions.
“If I was given a fight, boom, in 100 days I’d shut everything off. Completely. No traveling, no meetings, no business contracts,” he said. “I trained morning and night, morning and night, morning and night, resting only Sundays.”
Missing a single training session would trigger anxiety, Nurmagomedov added, highlighting the mental intensity of his preparations.
“If I missed even one of those two-a-day sessions, I’d get a panic attack, because I knew I had to fight and it felt out of control. Like I wasn’t ready. Like that cage door was about to shut on me.”
Nurmagomedov remains retired with his perfect record intact and is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history.
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