Khabib shocked the world in 2020 when he announced his retirement right after beating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. He was 29-0, undefeated, and still the lightweight champion. Most fighters dream of going out on top, but very few actually do it.
He said he was keeping a promise to his mother. After losing his father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, he decided it was time to stop. To fans, that seemed like the full story. But UFC veteran Chael Sonnen thinks there’s another layer to it.
Sonnen Thinks There is More to the Story
Chael Sonnen, known for speaking his mind, believes Khabib didn’t just retire because of a promise. He points to a more practical reason: weight cutting. According to him, it wasn’t the fighting that drove Khabib away. It was the process of gaining weight.
This is not just guesswork. Sonnen has fought for years and knows what goes on behind the scenes. He says the number one reason fighters retire is because they are tired of the cuts. And Khabib had it worse than most.
The Brutal Truth About Khabib’s Weight Cuts
Khabib fought in the 155-pound lightweight division, but that wasn’t close to his natural walk-around weight. He usually had to lose over 20 pounds in a short time to make the limit. It is painful, risky, and exhausting.
Sonnen believes that after years of pushing himself to the edge, Khabib simply had enough. He couldn’t keep doing that to himself.
155 Was Too Much, But 170 Was Too Big
One big issue is the gap between weight classes. After lightweight, the next division is welterweight at 170 pounds. That is a 15-pound jump. For Khabib, moving up meant facing much bigger guys. Staying at 155 meant more brutal cuts.
Sonnen says if the UFC had a 165-pound division, Khabib might have kept going. That would have been a perfect middle ground. But with no good options, Khabib was stuck. Instead of forcing it, he chose to walk away with his legacy intact.
Khabib Lost Patience With the Process
Some people thought Khabib ran out of challenges or didn’t feel the fire anymore. That wasn’t the case. He still trained hard, still loved the sport, and still wanted to coach the next generation. But the lifestyle of a fighter? That part wore him down.
Weight cutting is more than just sweating in saunas. It is months of strict diets, constant stress, and punishing routines. Khabib just didn’t want to do it anymore.
Most Fighters Stay Too Long – Khabib Got Out Early
In MMA, most retirements are temporary. Fighters leave, then come back for one more payday or one last run. They often stay too long and take damage that ruins their legacy. But Khabib did the opposite.
He left at the right time. No losses. No injuries. No decline. He walked out of the cage still unbeatable. That is rare. And according to Sonnen, it took serious strength to do that. Not physical, but mental.
As we speak, Khabib doesn’t seem interested in coming back. He is focused on coaching and mentoring fighters like Islam Makhachev, and building his own fight team. The sport is still part of his life, just in a different way.
