Cristiano Ronaldo, Conor McGregor and Manny Pacquiao were among those to pay tribute to Khabib Nurmagomedov following his decision to retire from the UFC on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.
The lightweight champion, 32, made the shock announcement immediately after his second-round victory against Justin Gaethje in the headline bout at UFC 254 at Flash Forum. The win, secured via a triangle choke, ensured Nurmagomedov walked away from the sport unbeaten, with a professional mixed martial arts record of 29-0. It was his third title defence.
After defeating interim-champion Gaethje, a tearful Nurmagomedov said he had vowed to his mother to keep his word to retire. His father, and longtime coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, died in July from heart complications made worse by contracting Covid-19.
Ronaldo was one of the first to react to Nurmagomedov’s retirement, posting on Instagram: “Congrats bro, your father is proud!”
McGregor, whom Nurmagomedov defeated in their infamous bout in 2018 - the most lucrative fight in UFC history - took to Twitter to say: “Good performance @TeamKhabib. I will carry on. Respect and condolences on your father again also. To you and family. Yours sincerely, The McGregors.”
Former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, considered by many the UFC’s greatest of all time, said also on social media: "I want to congratulate Khabib for an outstanding career. I know he made his father along with millions of fans around the world incredibly proud today. May God continue to bless him on his journey."
Meanwhile, eight-division boxing champion Pacquiao posted on Twitter: “Congrats to the [greatest of all time] @TeamKhabib on a great win and a great career! It was a privilege to watch you compete. Respect!”
Many said the victory against Gaethje lifted Nurmagomedov to become the greatest athlete in UFC history, with Dana White, the promotion’s president tweeting later on Sunday: "Congrats @TeamKhabib you accomplished EVERYTHING you set out to do. You are the [pound-for-pound] best fighter in the world and you truly are the G.O.A.T of the sport."
UFC 254 brought down the curtain on "Return to Fight Island", the promotion's five-event residency in Abu Dhabi and its second series in all in the capital.
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UFC 254: Khabib beats Gaethje in Abu Dhabi
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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
