Khabib Nurmagomedov shocked the MMA world in 2020 when he announced his sudden retirement and continually insisted he would not be making a return to the octagon.
Well, it really seems like the Russian superstar is committed to staying to his word after claiming he has turned down offers in the vicinity of $40 million USD ($A63m) to return to the octagon.
Speaking to Daniel Cormier on UFC Fight Pass’ recent Ultimate 30 countdown, Nurmagomedov said he never regretted his decision but added it has been difficult to stay true to his word amid some tempting offers to return, although he did not specify where they had been coming from.
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“When you’re the best fighter in the world, when you’re strong enough, when you have money, when you’re famous, it’s very hard to say no to all these things,” Nurmagomedov said.
“It’s very hard. It’s not easy. It’s not easy [to] just say no to 20, 30, 40 million dollars. But for myself, it’s not everything. This is not most important. It was not an easy decision, but if I decide, I decide.
“It’s finished. I leave this alone. I am happy and I never regret my decision. Never.”
Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0 record and while he had already achieved so much in the sport, he said at the time it was quite the change adjusting to life back away from the octagon.
In fact, he compared it to releasing himself from a “prison in a way”.
“I am living the life of an ordinary person, not the one of a professional athlete,” Nurmagomedov said to UFC Russia in 2021.
“I think living the life of an athlete is somewhat close to being held in a prison. Because everyday he has to do exactly the same thing — train, rest, then train again, then rest. It’s like living in the same mode, at the same pace, not slowing down.
“Once you slow down, you are no longer a champion. So I have just released myself from this prison in a way.”