Khabib shares photos of his training camp ahead of his fight against Justin Gaethje

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Khabib Nurmagomedov, the reigning UFC lightweight champion will square-off against hard-hitting interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 at Yas Island on October 24, in a five-round contest that is already being touted as the Fight of the Year and one which will focus on Khabib’s mental strength and resilience in the wake of the recent death of his father, Abdulmanap.

He must also demonstrate that a year’s layoff from the demanding sport of MMA has not dulled his fight IQ, his power or his hunger. Khabib, who is unbeaten in all 28 professional MMA fights, has not fought since he submitted American Dustin Poirier in the third round in September 2019 also in Abu Dhabi.

Just like he did before the Poirier fight, Khabib has opted to train with his team at Dubai’s Nad Al Sheba Sports Club, a state-of-the-art private sporting facility owned by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

He also took time-off from his rigorous schedule to cheer on two of his up-and-coming teammates who were competing at the UAE Warriors 13 event at the Rotunda Caesars Palace in Dubai.

Speaking to journalists the Dagestan native said: “My preparations are going very good. Right now it’s one month before the fight in Abu Dhabi. I feel great; my shape is very good. I’m very excited for this.

One last dance for Khabib ?

All the time I come back here to the UAE and fighting in Abu Dhabi, for me it’s like I’m fighting in my home. I feel great with this, with these people and I thank you so much.” However, Khabib would not be drawn into making an statement on what the future had in store and whether the Gaethje fight would be his last.

I don’t know after this what happens,” he said. “I don’t know. Right now I really focus on this fight I have a really tough opponent and I am focused on him.

He was accompanied by several members of his training camp including coach Javier Mendez.

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz stated that the Russian is likely to only fight twice before retiring from MMA. One can’t blame him, especially after his father’s passing.

Ultimately, nothing is certain in UFC but Abdelaziz’s implication was that the Justin Gaethje fight is one of those two fights. If you were to ask Khabib Nurmagomedov, his most-likely pick would be a fight against Georges St-Pierre and after that, Tony Ferguson.

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