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Jonathan White

Retired UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has given the latest hint he will not be returning to the Octagon, by seemingly joking that he is ready to turn to football.
“Preparing for my football debut,” the Russian posted on Instagram, with a video of him out on a run.
“I’m a free agent and ready to accept offers.”
Nurmagomedov retired with a 29-0 record after his win over Justin Gaethje last October, though several fighters have tried to coax him into a return.




















View this post on Instagram























A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov (@khabib_nurmagomedov)



After UFC 257 on Sunday there were calls from long-time rival Conor McGregor and UFC newcomer Michael Chandler for the Russian to come back.
“Conor McGregor; surprise, surprise, there is a new king in the lightweight division,” Chandler said after beating Dan Hooker.
UFC 257: McGregor blasts Khabib for ‘disrespectful comments’
“Dustin Poirier, your time is coming and Khabib – if you ever do see fit to grace us with your presence in the UFC Octagon in your quest for 30 [wins], you have to beat somebody. So beat me, if you can. God bless, see you at the top.”
Chandler called out “The Eagle” once more as he left the cage, saying “‘Khabib, I’m coming for you”, but Dana White insisted it “doesn’t sound positive” after McGregor’s loss to Poirier.
While it’s extremely unlikely the 32-year-old Nurmagomedov could seriously make the grade as a professional player, several videos of him playing football have emerged over the years.

Not sure what to say here, other than that Khabib Nurmagomedov playing football looks exactly how you imagined it would pic.twitter.com/tm8dqm5RKh
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 11, 2021

Earlier this month he was seen playing with former AC Milan and Real Madrid star Clarence Seedorf and the 32-year-old often talks about football in interviews.
“The English Premier League is the best in the world,” he told BT Sport in 2019, also describing his support for champions Liverpool.
“I remember when I was a kid in 2005 when I watched Liverpool versus Milan, in Dagestan. We had a big-screen TV on the beach, thousands of people [were] watching this match.

“@Ger_Grehan: @TheNotoriousMMA Do you miss playing for Yellowstone Celtic on a freezin winters day? #AskNotorious” I was a goal machine.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 7, 2013

“And when they were losing after the first half 3-0, and I really believed, ‘They have to come back, they have to come back’ because I liked the team.”
McGregor was a keen footballer at the start of his MMA career in his native Ireland, playing for amateur sides.
He described himself as a “goal machine” on Twitter in 2013 when asked if he missed playing.


If it turns out he is actually serious about taking up a new sport, Nurmagomedov would not be the first elite athlete to attempt to turn to football.
Olympic sprint champion and the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, attempted to become a professional footballer after hanging up his running spikes in 2018.
Bolt briefly signed for Australian A-League side Central Coast Mariners, after a spell training with German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund. More than 1.2 million fans in China watched Bolt in training with the German club.


ONE Championship: Khabib Nurmagomedov claims title shot ‘not far’ for protégé Saygid Izagakhmaev after ‘great debut’

Khabib Nurmagomedov felt ‘completely terrible’ before Covid-19 positive, ONE Championship boss Chatri Sityodtong reveals

UFC: Joe Rogan thinks Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘could still’ challenge Charles Oliveira for title

UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov signs with Russian football club Legion Dynamo

Khabib Nurmagomedov

UFC’s Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘ready to accept offers’ ... for football, not the Octagon

Khabib Nurmagomedov at a press conference in 2019. Photo: EPA

UFC 257: Khabib mocks Conor McGregor after Dustin Poirier loss, hints at staying retired

Dustin Poirier celebrates after his knockout victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 257. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC 257: Dana White says Khabib comeback ‘doesn’t sound positive’ after Conor McGregor loss

UFC president Dana White speaks with lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov during a press conference for UFC 229. Photo: AFP

UFC 257: Conor McGregor says ‘don’t write me off yet’ after Dustin Poirier defeat – ‘maybe I’ll switch up my game’

Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor in their lightweight fight during UFC 257. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 23: Dustin Poirier reacts after his knockout victory over Conor McGregor of Ireland in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC 257: Conor McGregor blasts Khabib for ‘disrespectful’ comments – ‘come back and let’s go again’

Conor McGregor poses on his private yacht in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Instagram

UFC 257: Michael Chandler TKOs Dan Hooker in first round, calls out Khabib Nurmagomedov

Michael Chandler punches Dan Hooker in their lightweight fight during UFC 257. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 23: (L-R) Dan Hooker of New Zealand punches Michael Chandler in a lightweight fight during the UFC 257 event inside Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts

Football


‘Preparing for my football debut,’ Russian jokingly tells social media followers along with video of him training
Retired lightweight champion is a keen football fan, and played with former AC Milan star Clarence Seedorf this month



After reiterating plans to retire from MMA, Khabib Nurmagomedov jokingly tells social media followers he’s ‘preparing for football debut’ with video of him training.


Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC’s Khabib Nurmagomedov ‘ready to accept offers’ ... for football, not the Octagon

‘Preparing for my football debut,’ Russian jokingly tells social media followers along with video of him training Retired lightweight champion is a keen football fan, and played with former AC Milan star Clarence Seedorf this month

‘Preparing for my football debut,’ Russian jokingly tells social media followers along with video of him training

Retired lightweight champion is a keen football fan, and played with former AC Milan star Clarence Seedorf this month