Dana White confident he can persuade Khabib Nurmagomedov to come out of retirement when they meet in Abu Dhabi

UFC president backs himself to lure undefeated Russian back to the octagon

UFC 254 GALLERY: Dagestan fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his victory over Justin Gaethje of the US after their lightweight title bout on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. Getty

Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his victory over Justin Gaethje. Getty

Khabib Nurmagomedov clinches his victory over Justin Gaethje via a second-round triangle choke at Flash Forum. Getty

Khabib Nurmagomedov takes down Justin Gaethje. Getty

Justin Gaethje kicks Khabib Nurmagomedov. Getty

Khabib Nurmagomedov punches Justin Gaethje. Getty

Khabib Nurmagomedov after his victory. Getty

Australian fighter Robert Whittaker lands a punch during his victory over Jared Cannonier of the US in their middleweight bout. Getty

Robert Whittaker after the fight against Jared Cannonier. Getty

Jared Cannonier punches Robert Whittaker. Getty

Robert Whittaker punches Jared Cannonier. Getty

Dagestan's Magomed Ankalaev celebrates his KO victory over Ion Cutelaba of Moldova in their light heavyweight bout on UFC's Fight Island, in Abu Dhabi. Getty

Magomed Ankalaev knocks down Ion Cutelaba. Getty

Magomed Ankalaev punches Ion Cutelaba. Getty

Russian fighter Alexander Volkov celebrates his victory over Walt Harris of the US after their heavyweight bout. Getty

Alexander Volkov punches Walt Harris. Getty

Walt Harris punches Alexander Volkov. Getty

US fighter Lauren Murphy celebrates her victory over Liliya Shakirova of Uzbekistan after their women's flyweight bout. Getty

Lauren Murphy punches Liliya Shakirova. Getty

Liliya Shakirova and Lauren Murphy during their bout. Getty

US fighter Phillip Hawes lands a punch during his 18-second victory over Jacob Malkoun of Australia in their middleweight bout. Getty

Phillip Hawes punches Jacob Malkoun. Getty

Phillip Hawes celebrates his KO victory over Jacob Malkoun. Getty

Phillip Hawes celebrates his KO victory over Jacob Malkoun. Getty

Kazakhstan's Shavkat Rakhmonov on his way to victory over Alex Oliveira of Brazil in their welterweight bout. Getty

Alex Oliveira lands a kick on Shavkat Rakhmonov. Getty

American fighter Casey Kenney lands a punch and his way to victory over Nathaniel Wood of England in their catchweight bout. Getty

Nathaniel Wood punches Casey Kenney. Getty

Australian Tai Tuivasa lands a punch on Stefan Struve of the Netherlands on his way to victory in their heavyweight bout. Getty

Stefan Struve lands a kick on Tai Tuivasa. Getty

UFC president Dana White is confident he will be able to convince Khabib Nurmagomedov to come out of retirement when they meet up in Abu Dhabi next month.

The lightweight champion, 32, made the shock announcement that he was calling time on his career immediately following UFC 254 in the capital in October, when he defeated interim title-holder Justin Gaethje by second-round submission. The conclusion to the UFC's second Fight Island series, it carried Nurmagomedov's record to 29-0. It was the Dagestan native's first competitive fight since his father and long-time coach, Abdulmanap, died in July.

However, speculation has continued that Nurmagomedov will return to the octagon, with the unbeaten fighter teasing recently his get-together with White. The pair will meet in Abu Dhabi, most probably during the UFC's third Fight Island in the emirate. That three-event run, which is expected to culminate with Conor McGregor's long-awaited comeback, has yet to be confirmed.

Speaking to TMZ Sports on Saturday, White was asked about Nurmagomedov’s current status, to which he replied: "The truth is, he is not committed to anything. What he has committed to is meeting with me next month."

White, though, added: "We're going to find out how persuasive I can be. I'll bet on me every time."

Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov has released previously unseen footage of the lengths he went to in the build-up to UFC 254 to make weight for the championship clash. The video, posted on his official YouTube account, shows the difficulty he experienced in cutting to 155lbs, and charts the final day at W Abu Dhabi - Yas Island leading up to the weigh-in.

Nurmagomedov eventually took to the scales first at Flash Forum, where he looked mighty relieved to have come in on the button.

The video can be viewed here.