Dana White issues statement on sensational UFC return for Khabib after leaked footage of MMA icon sends fans wild

DANA WHITE has given his thoughts on the prospect of Khabib Nurmagomedov returning to the UFC. The Russian wrecking machine emotionally hung up his gloves nearly six years ago after his second-round submission victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from mixed martial arts at UFC 254 in October 2020 Credit: GETTY Fight fans were last weekend convinced the Russian is weighing up a comeback after seeing him wearing gloves backstage at UFC 330 Credit: INSTAGRAM@SAYGID_IZAGAKHAMEV Nurmagomedov, 37, called time on his career as he promised his mother he’d no longer fight without his late father and head coach, Abdulmanap, by his side. ‘The Eagle’ has stayed true to his word by rejecting the lucrative advances of White. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! But MMA fans were convinced he was weighing up a comeback last Sunday after footage emerged of him wearing UFC gloves in the locker room before Islam Makhachev’s record-breaking victory over Ian Machado Garry. One wrote on X: “Bro [is] really coming back.” Another said: “Gloves talking to him like the Green Goblin mask.” And another said: “We’re back.” The prospect of a sensational cage comeback for Nurmagomedov was put to White during the UFC 330 post-fight press conference. And he was unequivocal with his answer, saying: “I don’t think that’s ever going to happen. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS UFC supremo Dana White has just down the prospect of Khabib Nurmagomedov returning to the cage Credit: GETTY Nurmagomedov has been cornering his team, including Islam Makhachev, since he retired Credit: Getty “When he was trying to retire, I was all over that f***ing guy. “I don’t think you’ll get him back now — plus he’s got to weigh like 225 pounds or something.” Nurmagomedov was in earshot of his former promoter when the topic of his weight was brought up And he was quick to correct the 57-year-old, saying: “I’m 205, Dana!” Nurmagomedov turned his efforts to coaching after hanging up his gloves, playing pivotal roles in the careers of Makhachev and his cousins, Umar and Usman. Usman was in attendance at UFC 330 for Makhachev’s historic win over Machado Garry and seems a dead cert to join MMA’s top promotion after seeing out his PFL contract. Comment now