Khabib Nurmagomedov Praises 'Legend' Edson Barboza After Former Rival's Retirement

UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov offered words of admiration for his former opponent, Edson Barboza, following Barboza's retirement from mixed martial arts. The Brazilian fighter announced his departure from the sport at the age of 40 after a loss at UFC 330.

Nurmagomedov, who recently attended UFC 330 to support his friend and protégé Islam Makhachev, was backstage during Barboza's retirement announcement. Makhachev successfully defended his UFC welterweight title against Ian Machado Garry via unanimous decision in a hard-fought bout.

Khabib Nurmagomedov concluded his own illustrious UFC career at UFC 254 with a victory over Justin Gaethje, retiring as the pound-for-pound king to honor a promise to his late father. His path to championship glory included significant wins against top contenders such as Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. Notably, his victory over Edson Barboza at UFC 219 was a crucial step towards securing his first lightweight title shot.

Barboza, a respected veteran known for his striking prowess, faced his final bout at UFC 330. Following the fight, he decided to hang up his gloves. Nurmagomedov, upon hearing the news, shared a respectful tribute to Barboza.

"A long time ago, the sport left him. But today, he leaves the sport, too," Nurmagomedov commented on Barboza's retirement. "This happens. When you’re 40 years old, you have to think about your family. Family is better than being beat up like this. Just my opinion. But he’s a legend!"

Throughout his extensive UFC tenure, which began at UFC 123, Edson Barboza secured impressive victories against notable fighters such as Paul Felder, Beneil Dariush, and Anthony Pettis.