UFC president Dana White has accepted Khabib Nurmagomedov's decision to retire as final.
The Russian first announced his retirement after successfully defending his UFC lightweight title against Justin Gaethje last October at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi.
Nurmagomedov, who with the win took his professional record to 29-0, cited the death of his father in July and a subsequent promise he made to his mother as reason not to continue.
The Dagestani native has continually been linked with a return to UFC since, with a rematch against Conor McGregor heavily touted.
White has done more than most to keep the door open for a potential return, meeting Nurmagomedov on the sidelines of a UAE Warriors event held in Abu Dhabi in January preceding the final run of the Fight Island series in the UAE capital.
White took to social media on Thursday and, after what appears to be another meeting with Nurmagomedov, seemingly accepting that the "Eagle" has “officially retired.”
"29-0 it is. He is officially 100 per cent retired. It was incredible to watch you work @TeamKhabib. Thank you for EVERYTHING and enjoy whatever is next my friend."
Nurmagomedov thanked the UFC in an Instagram post and said “a real conversation between real men” took place between him and White.
"Dana - I’ll never forget your attitude towards me, my father did not forget and my sons will remember you."
Nurmagomedov retires as arguably the greatest athlete in UFC history, with notable victories over McGregor, Dustin Poirier, Gaethje, Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, and Al Iaquinta, whom he defeated to claim the vacant lightweight title in April 2018 at UFC 223.
He is likely to turn his attention full time to his Eagle Fighting Championship mixed martial art promotion.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov (left) in conversation with UFC president Dana White at the UAE Warriors 15 cage side at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Friday, January 15, 2021 -
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, chairman of Palms Sports during the UAE Warriors 15 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Friday, January 15, 2021. -
Bruno Machado lands one on Mickael Lebout in the Lightweight title fight at the UAE Warriors 15 on Friday, January 15, 2021. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Bruno Machado has Mickael Lebout cornered in the Lightweight title fight in the UAE Warriors 15 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Friday, January 15, 2021. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Russian Rinat Fakhretdinov took just 57 seconds to knock out Canadian Eric Spicely with this stunning right hander in the UAE Warriors 15 Middleweight bout at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Friday, January 15, 2021. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Carlston Harris of Guyana has Russian Saygid Izagakhmaev in a submissive choke in the UAE Warriors 15 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Friday, January 15, 2021. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Canadian Jesse Arnett on the attack against Algerian Elias Boudegzdame in the Catchweight 64kg in the UAE Warriors 15 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Friday, January 15, 2021. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Bruno Machado receives his award from chairman of Palms Sports Abdulmunam Al Hashemi in the UAE Warriors 15 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Friday, January 15, 2021. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Muin Gafurov of Tajikistan lands a flying knee on Walter Zamora of Costa Rica in the featherweight in the UAE Warriors 15 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Friday, January 15, 2021. Courtesy UAE Warriors -
Portuguese Leandro Gomes receives his award from Palms Sports managing director Fouad Darwish after his win against Moroccan Mohamed Karim in the Catchweight 64kg in the UAE Warriors 15 at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Friday, January 15, 2021. Courtesy UAE Warriors
