Do you think Khabib should have retired?

Do you think Khabib should have retired?

  • Total voters
    207
He said he didn't want to fight anymore and since he has made that statement, it's obvious his heart isn't in it anymore so good on him for getting out when he did. He retired undefeated, solidified himself as the best if not, one of the very best fighters at 155 and as champion with a few successful defenses. Not a bad way at all.
 
HNIC215 said:
I understand why he left on top... but I don't think he stayed long enough to solidify himself the GOAT.

He might be GOAT of lightweight division but definitely not all-time GOAT.

Would have loved to see him stay on and demolish everyone for a few more years.

Alas, he's a promoter now and is living pretty good, legacy is solid, income is coming in very well, he seems happy. So maybe it was a good decision after all.
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Retiring as the possible GOAT LW isn't bad at all, it is the deepest division so he has that going for him.
 
He won the belt and defended it, made enough money and had enough public profile and other options to gain an income outside of fighting, and quit without any obvious health issues. Would have been good to see him challenge himself further but I'd rather he quit than to keep fighting beyond his interest/his abilities and see him get hurt (same with anyone)
 
BowserGiga said:
He's undefeated, unscathed, has all of his brain cells, incredibly wealthy, billionaires backing his MMA promotion, the most famous living muslim on earth, the biggest social media star in Russia, a nearly undefeated coach, and has a successor Islam Makhachev who is going to carry on his legacy.

I doubt he cares whether people think "he did enough" for Sherdog GOAT debates, according to him he's much happier now, and his legacy as the most dominant fighter in the game is solidified.

Got in. Got rich. Got out.

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100% this

Anyone who thinks he needed to fight more to prove something to them is full of shit. Khabib doesn't owe you anything. He's enjoying his life, made his mark on the sport, and has built a legacy that others are following. He's taking his father's vision and growing it worldwide.

What the fuck does he have to keep fighting for?
 
I think there are a myriad of reasons he retired when he did. His mother's wishes, of course, but I believe his father's death contributed on more than an emotional level. With Abdulmanap gone, I believe Khabib felt like he had to take over the training side of things. It's not like it was a huge difference, I often read that his father's plan was to hit 30-0 and get out, so it's likely he only would have fought one more time anyway.
I liken him to Barry Sanders. Had he played longer, he would have likely retired with the NFL's all time rushing record, but he's still one of the two best running backs I ever saw play, regardless of when he retired.
 
VinceArch said:
Retiring as the possible GOAT LW isn't bad at all, it is the deepest division so he has that going for him.
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I agree... GOAT LW isn't bad at all.

From a business perspective, he made a smart move.

As a fan, I wish he stayed longer.
 
I would imagine most fighters would love to retire on top too with their health intact and their bank account full. MMA is a very unforgivable sport the longer you stay in it

Personally I'd rather see a fighter retire on top then one that retires at the bottom.But as a fan, yeah it does suck thinking about fantasy match ups with GSP, Usman or a fight with charles oliveira if he stayed a little longer.
 
From a fan's perspective, of course not. He never fought a tough stylistic match to prove himself. As far as him personally, I don't even care to speculate.

Khabib "Coulda' been a contenda' for the GOAT" Nurmagomedov
 
He retired too early having begged for number 1 rankings.

The rise of Charles Olivera isn't doing much for his legacy either - if Charles beats Gaethe then they're pretty much tied in LW GOAT convos.

War Du Bronx.
 
Lee_ said:
From a fan's perspective, of course not. He never fought a tough stylistic match to prove himself. As far as him personally, I don't even care to speculate.

Khabib "Coulda' been a contenda' for the GOAT" Nurmagomedov
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This is history revision though.

Gaethje was supposed to be the worst guy on paper for him on earth with his D1 TDD and cinderblock fists. Khabib ran through him so easily all of a sudden he was crap. Same would have happened if he had run through Ferguson.

The bar keeps moving. Khabib understood this.

We'll see what people say when Islam runs through Olivera and what style of fighter Islam needs to face to test himself.

Buff said:
He retired too early having begged for number 1 rankings.

The rise of Charles Olivera isn't doing much for his legacy either - if Charles beats Gaethe then they're pretty much tied in LW GOAT convos.

War Du Bronx.
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When Charles loses to Islam, his name will never be mentioned in the same breath as Khabib again.
 
BowserGiga said:
When Charles loses to Islam, his name will never be mentioned in the same breath as Khabib again.
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You say that like you think Charles wouldn't be a tough matchup for either Khahib or Islam... A rangy, resilient, powerful striker with sublime bjj... It's not a given for either, that's a great fight, and I'm looking forward to it.

Will be roiting for my boy Charles, but that fight will either cement his legacy, or, as you say, will put Khabib above him as his and Islams styles are virtually identical. Goldberg.gif
 
Buff said:
You say that like you think Charles wouldn't be a tough matchup for either Khahib or Islam... A rangy, resilient, powerful striker with sublime bjj... It's not a given for either, that's a great fight, and I'm looking forward to it.

Will be roiting for my boy Charles, but that fight will either cement his legacy, or, as you say, will put Khabib above him as his and Islams styles are virtually identical. Goldberg.gif
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All the losses on Charles record count towards his legacy whether you like it or not.
 
His haters like to ignore the fact the the gap between him and his challengers was widening when he retired. He hadn’t even reached his peak. His father/head trainer passing and him winning more dominantly after each win, why stick around? He mauled the 3 most dangerous adversaries with ease. He didn’t need the money. He proved he was top dog. Had other things he wanted to explore. I would’ve like to see him stay but I don’t see a problem with him hanging em up. Got in, got rich, got out. Never lost, never cut, never dropped, never in danger. GOAT.
 
BowserGiga said:
All the losses on Charles record count towards his legacy whether you like it or not.
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The only LW loss that really glares is Paul Felder, the ones where we was sorting out his weight/missing weight blah blah, that's just a part of the game... At least he never pulled out of a fight because of a tiramisu.

Since that loss to Felder he's fought similar competition to Khabib, and has had similar results...

Hypothetically, supposing Glover fights for the next 15 years and defends 25 times, hypothetically, obviously... Do you hold his losses against him in then and say that Jones was still the LHW GOAT (unless you're one of those PED crybabies)? Its about title defenses, not wins against shepherds on some rock in Dagestan.
 
MXZT said:
Now it's been more than a year that he's retired. What's your thoughts on it now?

For me, I understand why he retired and respect his mother wishes for him to retire after fighting Gaethje.

But I think if it wasn't for his mother wishes or his dad passing. He should have fought at least 5-6 more times or something like ending it at 35-0.

khabib-winner-crying.jpg
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I think that's a VERY stupid question.
He was amazing. And I am sad to see him go.

but abso-fucking-lutely NO ONE can say if it was or not time for him to retire.
That is a decision only he could make, and we have to respect it.

As simple as this.
 
BowserGiga said:
He's undefeated, unscathed, has all of his brain cells, incredibly wealthy, billionaires backing his MMA promotion, the most famous living muslim on earth, the biggest social media star in Russia, a nearly undefeated coach, and has a successor Islam Makhachev who is going to carry on his legacy. Abdulmanap MMA lives on.
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Is he really? Is there any source for that? I'm just wondering because i don't know anybody in my personal life who has ever heard of him. I think even the Iron Sheik is more famous.
 
D 1 Wrestler said:
Should have moved up fought Colby and Usman then retired could have actually created a legacy, instead he's the guy who almost died cutting weight who beat 2 year layoff Conor
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They should have moved down. If you had let them know how important it was to you, they probably would have.

Not Khabibs problem what Conor had done with his time prior to their fight. They fought, he took his soul, and that was that.

Stop with the BS, it's over.
 
Khabib is having real success after fighting. However, for my own selfishness I wish he was still fighting, he was an enigma...
 
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