Khabib coaches his fighters in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC
One of the most dominant names in MMA history, Khabib Nurmagomedov officially retired in October 2020, after the tragic death of his father, Abdulmanap, during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, anyone who thinks he wouldn't be able to fight at a high level is mistaken. Although his time as lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg) is behind him, the Russian assured in an interview with 'Smol Talk' last Tuesday (14) that he is currently at his peak.
According to the former fighter, his grappling skills have improved significantly since his retirement, to the point that he now feels like a much more technically complete athlete compared to his years in the biggest MMA event on the planet.
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“People think my peak was between 2018 and 2020, but I wasn’t at my peak back then. I turned 32 in September 2020, and I retired in October. So, I hadn’t even really started yet. My grappling has improved tremendously since then. In 2026, it’s much better than it was in 2020. I watch my old fights now and think, ‘How could I have made that mistake here?’ Meanwhile, people watching from the outside say, ‘Wow, what a level.’ But for me, that’s not the level. My grappling is much better now. And the guys who trained with me both in 2020 and in 2026 say the same thing,” stated the former champion.
🚨🤼♂️ Khabib says he is in PRIME now in his wrestling skills and he's far better than he was when he retired back in 2020:
"People think my prime was between 2018 and 2020, but I wasn't in my prime back then. I turned 32 in September 2020, and I retired in October. So I hadn't… pic.twitter.com/mt9q33TVJE
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) July 14, 2026
According to Khabib, this improvement is due to the fact that he never stopped training, even without the need to compete. He says the only time he stopped exercising was for two months after undergoing elbow surgery. Despite this, he showed no interest in returning to fighting.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is the coach of the Dagestan Clan.
Khabib celebrates his UFC victory with his father. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC
Since hanging up his gloves, the Russian has dedicated himself to helping the next generation of fighters from the Republic of Dagestan, just like his father. Recently, he celebrated the opening of a new academy in his city. Under his tutelage, names like Islam Makhachev , and his cousins Usman Nurmagomedov and Umar Nurmagomedov have excelled in the biggest events on the planet.
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