Khabib Nurmagomedov claims his UFC deal would keep him exclusive for life

Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed that his UFC contract includes a lifetime exclusive clause, meaning he cannot fight for any other promotion even if he were to exit retirement. The undefeated former lightweight champion, who retired in 2020 with a perfect 29–0 record, stressed that he has no plans to return to competition but emphasized the restrictive nature of his agreement. Speaking on the "Smol Talk" podcast, Khabib explained that the UFC leverages fighters' dreams of competing in the sport's premier promotion to secure perpetual exclusivity. "I'm not planning to return, but even if I suddenly wanted to, I could never fight anywhere except the UFC – not even 20 years from now," Nurmagomedov said. "So, your exclusive arrangement with them effectively lasts for life." He noted that the UFC uses this leverage strategically when signing aspiring fighters. "Every fighter dreams of competing in the UFC, and the UFC uses that. They say, 'Alright, that's your dream, come in. But the deal is exclusive.'" Despite multiple attempts by UFC President Dana White to lure Nurmagomedov out of retirement, he has remained steadfast in his decision to stay away from professional fighting, instead focusing on his role as a promoter and manager through his company Eagle FC.