After stunning the world with his retirement last year, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) icon Khabib Nurmagomedov seems to be committed to his decision.
The former Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world lightweight champion has reportedly signed a contract with a third-tier Russian team FC Legion Dynamo. Nurmagomedov had announced his intentions to shift to football earlier this year and had also received an offer from FC Kamaz, another third-tier Russian team.
Nurmagomedov announced his retirement following his submission victory over American Justin Gaethje on Oct. 24, his first fight following the death of his father, Abdulmanap, from complications caused by COVID-19.
Fulfilling a promise made to his mother, the 32-year-old left the cage after a stunning run of 13 wins in eight years and a professional record featuring eight knockouts and 11 submission wins in his 29 victories.
In January, Nurmagomedov revealed his intentions to transition to football, tweeting that he was preparing for his debut in the sport and “ready to accept offers.”
According to Russian media outlet RT.com report, FC Legion Dynamo is a club based out of Nurmagomedov’s hometown of Dagestan. It was founded in 2015 and have been consistently participating in the third division of the Russian Football League since the 2016-17 season.
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The news of Nurmagomedov’s signing with the club had appeared back in June this year when the club officially offered the legendary fighter a contract. Meanwhile, on Friday, the club shared a photo on social media, which shows Club President Shamil Lakhiyalov shaking hands with Nurmagomedov and a few papers on the table, hinting that the deal was being made.
