Khabib Will Remain Lightweight Champ, ‘There’s No Vacant Or Interim Title’

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Adding fuel to the rumors Khabib will return for a 30th win, UFC president Dana White says there are no plans to strip him of the lightweight belt or create an interim title.

After a dominating performance at UFC 254, lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov put his gloves down in the cage and announced his retirement from the sport.

But one week later, UFC president Dana White is already throwing a huge amount of doubt on that decision, telling CBS Sports “I have a feeling that he might go for 30-0.”

So what’s the deal with that? Following UFC Vegas 12, media had the opportunity to press White on those Khabib comments.

“I’m not saying he’s going to 100% come out for number 30, but I think he will,” White told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.

“He didn’t say that he’ll fight, but he didn’t say no,” White added during the post-event press conference. “He’s considering the 30-0. His father wanted it, and I think that he was super-emotional – had the mumps, measles – whatever. Broken toe. Trained on a stationary bike for that fight and came in and fought. And I think that he was super-emotional.”

“He’s still the champ,” White added. “There’s no vacant title open right now or interim title happening. He’s the champ and we’ll give him some time to figure out what he wants to do. I feel pretty good. He said he was going to talk with his mother.”

As for who Khabib might want to face for 30-0? (Hint: It’s Georges St-Pierre.)

“No clue, yet,” White said. “No clue.”