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Tom Taylor

No 12-ranked UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee supports Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement plans, but doesn’t think they will stick.
Lightweight champ Nurmagomedov (29-0) announced his retirement after a submission victory over Justin Gaethje (22-3) at UFC 254 last October, but promotional president Dana White remains optimistic the 32-year-old Russian will continue fighting.
“I think the man should go ahead and retire,” Lee, who has previously campaigned for a fight with Nurmagomedov, told SCMP MMA from Las Vegas.
“[The UFC] should let him retire, let him enjoy himself, and let him take his mind off the sport. Dana has said this before: once a guy starts talking about retirement, this isn’t a sport you want to stick around with. You should go ahead and do it and let the division go on.


“Let us keep working,” Lee said. “Let somebody else hold that belt for a little bit. He’ll be back – there’s no doubt about that – but let him be missed for a little bit. I think that’s the best option.”
If Nurmagomedov commits to his retirement plans, the UFC will need to crown a new 155-pound king, and Lee (18-6) believes Dustin Poirier (27-6, one no contest) and Charles Oliveira (30-8, one no contest) should then get the call.
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Poirier is riding impressive victories over Dan Hooker (20-10) and Conor McGregor (22-5), while Oliveira is on an eight-fight unbeaten streak highlighted by wins over Tony Ferguson and Lee.
“Poirier and Oliveira makes all the sense [for the vacant title],” 28-year-old American Lee said. “I don’t see anybody else who even comes close, to be honest with you.
“Michael Chandler is one fight in [to his UFC career] and he just didn’t fight a top guy,” the “Motown Phenom” added. “So yeah, it’s Poirier – go ahead and let the man have his dues. He’s put in enough work for it, and so has Oliveira.”


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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 25: (L-R) Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia celebrates his victory over Justin Gaethje in their lightweight title bout during the UFC 254 event on October 25, 2020 on UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

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Lightweight contender Lee supports Nurmagomedov’s decision, but says he needs to ‘go ahead and retire’ instead of holding up division
‘Motown Phenom’ thinks Poirier vs Oliveira ‘makes all the sense’ for a vacant title fight



Kevin Lee thinks Khabib Nurmagomedov needs to ‘go ahead and retire’ and ‘be missed for a bit’ instead of hanging around and holding up UFC lightweight division.


Khabib Nurmagomedov