Khabib Nurmagomedov says Dustin Poirier deserves to be champion as new meeting with Dana White is set

Khabib Nurmagomedov heaps praise on Dustin Poirier before fresh meeting with UFC president Dana White

UFC lightweight legend Khabib Nurmagomedov called it quits when he beat Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 last year.

Since then, a return for the lightweight champion has been touted. The closest he came to returning was when Dana White announced that the result of UFC 257 could force the Russian to reconsider retirement.

However, Dustin Poirier prevailed in his fight against Conor McGregor. With no possibility of a big-money fight against the Irishman, it seems like Nurmagomedov would be making his retirement official soon.

This is according to MMA reporter Bruno Massami, who posted Khabib’s interview with Match TV (h/t BJPenn.com) to imply that he could officially retire after his meeting with Dana White.

In an interview with Match TV, UFC Champ Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed he scheduled a new meeting with Dana White at the end of this month.

He accepts any decision but he thinks the division needs to go on. Also, he agrees about @DustinPoirier deserves to be a Champion. pic.twitter.com/vocvt6m3pc

— Bruno Massami (Бруно Массами) (@BrMassami) February 9, 2021

Khabib Nurmagomedov content with Dustin Poirier running the UFC lightweight division

In that interview, ‘The Eagle’ also stated that Poirier deserved to be the new champion, and that the lightweight division ‘must go on’.

With no new challenge in front of him, it seems like there is nothing left for the Russian to conquer at UFC. A fight against Georges St-Pierre is also possible.

That, however, looks like it would just remain a fantasy match-up, with no indications of it happening whatsoever.

Nevertheless, the picture will only become clear once Nurmagomedov holds his meeting with White at the end of this month.

And we know that the UFC president would do everything in his power to convince the Russian icon into coming back to the promotion.

If he does officially retire, it seems like ‘The Diamond’ would hold all the cards in the lightweight division. As good as Poirier is right now, Nurmagomedov has already finished him at UFC 242.

So it seems like the 29-0-0 MMA record holder is content with going out on his terms and let Poirier, a man he has already comfortably beaten in the past, take care of the division.

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• Amanda Ribas might have picked up close to 30 pounds after weighing in at 116 pounds ahead of UFC 257

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