Khabib Shares Soccer Dream, UFC Policy Concerns

Khabib Nurmagomedov, the retired UFC lightweight champion, shared personal reflections on his early aspirations and voiced concerns about the promotion's fighter policies during a recent appearance at the World Sports Summit in Dubai.

Nurmagomedov, who retired in 2020 with an undefeated 29-0 record after defeating Justin Gaethje by submission at UFC 254, revealed that his childhood dream was to become a professional soccer player rather than a mixed martial artist. Growing up in Dagestan, Russia, he said soccer held a special place in his heart from a young age. "I was watching football all my life and I really love the sport, and for me, that sport is still number one," Nurmagomedov stated. "When I was young, my dream was to become a football player, and after, I accidentally became a fighter. Sometimes this happens, you know? Where I was born, where I grew up and my father was a coach. I'm joking with accidentally, but in my heart, it was always football."

Despite his passion for soccer, Nurmagomedov's path led him into MMA due to his family's deep involvement in the sport. His father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, was a renowned coach who trained him from childhood. The family...