UFC Hall of Fame inductee Khabib Nurmagomedov finds himself in disagreement with UFC President Dana White regarding White’s recent assertions concerning Nurmagomedov’s sudden decision to retire.
Nurmagomedov joined an elite group of mixed martial arts legends by ending his professional fighting career at its peak, declaring his retirement after securing a victory at UFC 254. His decision was made months after the devastating loss of his father and came from a pledge he made to his mother that he would no longer compete, which he honored subsequent to his win over Justin Gaethje.
Even with numerous enticing proposals from the UFC to coax him back into competition, the esteemed UFC Hall of Famer has consistently upheld his retired status. His induction into the UFC Hall of Fame occurred in 2022, a ceremony shared with his enduring teammate and confidant, Daniel Cormier.
Nevertheless, speculation persists concerning Nurmagomedov’s unexpected departure from the sport during what was considered his athletic prime. UFC CEO Dana White recently stirred controversy by stating in an interview that Nurmagomedov ceased fighting because he amassed significant wealth during a ‘Muslim world tour’ conducted after his triumph against Conor McGregor.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Challenges Dana White’s ‘Falsehoods’ Regarding His UFC Retirement
Through a recent update on his Instagram story, Nurmagomedov addressed the recent remarks made by White.
💰Dana White says Khabib stopped fighting because he made so much money on Muslim world tour
“He hit Saudi, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and they rained money on him. He made so much money that he didn’t have to fight anymore”
via Prince St Pizza pic.twitter.com/cfc3RIAvhG
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) May 20, 2026
“I occasionally come across these types of headlines online. Naturally, I am not one to respond to every bit of nonsense found on the internet, but when Dana articulates statements such as these, they gain widespread traction,” Nurmagomedov commented concerning White’s observations.
“Let me state this clearly: I swear by Allah, this is entirely fabricated. No one ever provided me with such millions, and the assertion being circulated that I retired from the sport due to accumulating substantial wealth is equally inaccurate. The entire global community is aware of the actual circumstances.”
“I have already discussed this matter on numerous occasions, rendering any further reiteration unnecessary.”
At the time of this publication, White has not issued a reply to Nurmagomedov’s impassioned declaration.
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