UFC legend Khabib reveals how he refused to break rival’s arm and held back against Gaethje for parents’ sake

UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed how he refused to break Justin Gaethje's arm at UFC 254.

The 32-year-old won the fight by technical submission but claims he could have stopped it earlier, holding back to avoid upsetting Gaethje's parents.

Khabib was asked at a press conference who was the hardest opponent to hurt in the Octagon.

He said via : "I can point out two of them - Justin Gaethje and Michael Johnson.

"When I trapped [Johnson’s] hand and went for the kimura… I could’ve broken his arm.

"I was executing the move very carefully, because if you break an arm that way it will never be the same.

"So I was very careful, rolling it very carefully, and just asked for him to give it up.

"As for Justin… First I went for his arm.

"And only then I moved to the triangle choke… I realised, he would not give up and I didn’t want to cripple his hand, so I went for the triangle choke.

"His parents were there in attendance, his father, his mother… in the front row.

CASINO SIGN UP OFFER: GET £10 FREE BONUS WITH NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED

"Footage doesn't show it, but when I entered the cage I could see them sitting there and looking at me.

"So those two guys I didn’t want to hurt too bad."