Retired and unbeaten, Khabib claims his wrestling is sharper now than during his UFC title reign

Khabib Nurmagomedov insists he is a better wrestler today than he was during the peak years of his UFC lightweight championship reign, arguing that he retired in October 2020 before ever truly hitting his prime.

The Dagestani finished his career with a perfect 29-0 record, defending the UFC lightweight title three times before stepping away following his submission victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. His retirement came shortly after the death of his father and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, and was driven by a promise Khabib had made to his mother not to compete without his father in his corner.

“People think my prime was between 2018 and 2020, but I wasn’t in my prime back then,” Nurmagomedov said on the Smol Talk podcast. “I turned 32 in September 2020, and I retired in October. So, I hadn’t even really begun yet. My grappling has improved tremendously since then. In 2026, it’s much better than it was in 2020.”

Nurmagomedov, now a UFC Hall of Famer, has spent the years since retirement focused on coaching and business. Despite no longer competing, he says he still cannot be beaten on the mats by any of his training partners — a claim his teammates have corroborated, particularly since he added weight.

What makes the assertion striking is the contrast between his self-assessment and the near-universal admiration his old fight footage still generates. Nurmagomedov says rewatching those bouts reveals mistakes that outside observers simply do not notice.

“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 to me, that’s not the level,” he said. “My grappling is far better now. And the guys who trained with me in both 2020 and 2026 say the same thing.”

Nurmagomedov has given no indication of a return to competition, and his retirement has always been presented as final. His comments appear to reflect the perspective of a dedicated martial artist continuing to refine his craft in the gym rather than any hint at a comeback.