UFC star Khabib bizarrely awarded ‘Best Mum’ medal in Dagestan after following mother’s wishes to retire
DECORATED UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov has picked up one award he was not expecting - a 'Best Mum' medal.
The unbeaten Russian MMA ace announced his retirement in the immediate aftermath of his second-round KO of Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
The pound-for-pound champ, 32, quit the octagon after retaining his lightweight title and revealed he had promised his mother he would stop fighting.
He explained that he could not go on without his late father Abdulmanap - who died from coronavirus complications aged 57 in July.
Khabib was honoured with the bizarre medal in his his home republic of Dagestan in the town of Derbent on the Caspian Sea.
And he took to Instagram to share a picture of his award with the caption: "This is the medal they presented me with in Derbent."
The gold medal has 'Best Mum' inscribed on it in Russian.
But after hanging up his gloves with a 29-0 unbeaten record, the Russian KO artist looks set in his ways.
Khabib is studying for a degree in agricultural studies at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics which he juggles with working on his farm.
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He told : "You can fight until you're 40 but there should be a goal.
"I had a goal to reach the summit and I got there. Further, I have no competitive interest.
"Next year I will graduate. I'd like to [complete] my thesis, do a masters course, dedicate more time to studying.
"'I've bought sheep, I tend to my farm. I'd like to develop in this field a little. I have the bull calves out to feed, I have cows."
