Khabib reveals UFC contract bars him from fighting anywhere else — even in retirement

Khabib Nurmagomedov, the undefeated former UFC lightweight champion who retired in 2020 with a 29-0 record, says he is still contractually tied to the UFC — and that the deal would block him from fighting anywhere else for the rest of his life, should he ever change his mind about returning.

Speaking on the Smol Talk podcast, Nurmagomedov explained that the UFC leverages its status as the world’s premier MMA promotion to lock fighters into exclusive arrangements from the moment they sign. “I’m not planning to return, but even if I suddenly wanted to, I could never fight anywhere except the UFC — not even 20 years from now,” he said. “So, your exclusive arrangement with them effectively lasts for life. I still have a contract with the UFC. Every fighter dreams of competing in the UFC, and the UFC uses that. They say, ‘Alright, that’s your dream, come in. But the deal is exclusive.’”

Nurmagomedov has consistently dismissed any notion of a comeback since vacating the lightweight title following his submission victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. Dana White made repeated attempts to coax him out of retirement in the years that followed, but the Russian has held firm.

The revelation adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate around fighter rights and contractual freedom in MMA. Critics of the UFC’s contracting practices have long argued that its exclusive clauses and champion’s clauses give the promotion disproportionate control over fighters’ careers. Nurmagomedov’s account suggests that control can extend well beyond a fighter’s active years.

As a UFC Hall of Famer and one of the most dominant champions in the promotion’s history, Nurmagomedov’s public comments carry significant weight. Whether his disclosure prompts broader scrutiny of how the UFC structures its contracts with up-and-coming fighters remains to be seen.