The made-for-television ‘decision’ of Khabib Nurmogomedov was to take place during the UFC’s debut on ABC. However, that didn’t happen as the UFC lightweight champion plays coy with the company.
An announcement that was promoted prior to the event on Dana White’s social media and via Khabib emerged as a meeting took place on Friday before the event. Khabib’s MMA promotion held an event in Abu Dhabi where the two sat next to each other after the meeting.
The answer White gave on network television was a dud for those wanting a yes or no. Khabib will come out of a retirement if someone in the lightweight division “can do something special.” Not really the, “I’m back,” Michael Jordan definitive statement you want to hear.
Khabib seems to be entertaining the return more and more as it sounds as though he will be in Vegas after cornering a teammate on the UFC’s midweek show in Abu Dhabi. White will meet with him next week when he returns from UFC 257. Dustin Poirier meets Conor McGregor in the main event of 257.
Payout Perspective:
There has to be some level of interest in Khabib coming back if he is willing to fly to Vegas to meet with White. While he is likely hoping that his promotion will forge a deal with the UFC, that could be done without the need to fly across the world. Certainly, coning out of retirement is not a new thing in combat sports, but Khabib seemed adamant this past October that he was going to leave the sport. One would expect that Khabib is negotiating a bigger deal for him and probably his teammates and his promotion to be a ‘feeder’ league for the UFC. Also, I’m not sure that he wants another spectacle fight with Conor McGregor but that might be the one to make if he wins at 257.
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