Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from professional MMA with a 29–0 record after defending the UFC lightweight title at UFC 254.
At UFC 254 on October 24, 2020, Nurmagomedov defeated interim champion Justin Gaethje by second-round submission. He announced his retirement immediately afterward, explaining that the death of his father and longtime coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, had deeply affected him.
Nurmagomedov won the UFC lightweight championship from Al Iaquinta at UFC 223 in 2018. He successfully defended it against Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Gaethje. His wrestling-heavy style, top control, and pressure made him one of the most dominant champions in UFC history.
His 29–0 record is often described as undefeated, although some databases separately record earlier amateur or regional bouts. The 29 professional victories recognized by the UFC and major MMA records exclude no official loss.