Khabib Nurmagomedov has thanked Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, for a generous supply of dates sent from the emirate to his base in the United States. The retired former UFC champion, currently in Las Vegas as teammate Islam Makhachev competes this weekend in the world’s lead mixed martial arts organisation, posted a message on Instagram on Thursday. Posing beside boxes of dates, Khabib wrote: “All the way from Dubai to USA. Thank you so much brother @faz3. This are my favourite dates.” The Dagestan native, who called an end to his unbeaten career after victory against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi last October, also posted a video showcasing Sheikh Hamdan's present. Khabib knows the Dubai royal well having spent a considerable amount of time at Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex while he was preparing for his UFC bouts. For the unification clash with Gaethje, which carried his professional mixed martial arts record to 29-0, the then-lightweight champion spent the majority of his training camp in Dubai. He returned to the facility once more in February, where he met again with Sheikh Hamdan. A regular visitor to the UAE, Khabib recently announced two Emirates-based business ventures, while he spoke last November about setting up a gym in his name in Abu Dhabi. In January, Khabib collaborated with local promotion UAE Warriors to host an event in the capital in memory of his father, Abdulmanap, who died last year. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, aged 57, served also as his son’s long-time coach. Although Khabib announced his retirement inside the octagon immediately following his victory against Gaethje, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/other-sport/ufc-president-dana-white-accepts-khabib-nurmagomedov-officially-retired-1.1187229" target="_blank">UFC president Dana White did not make the decision official until March</a>. White reportedly attempted in the past couple of weeks to coax Khabib back to the octagon, with the Russian declining. Khabib, 32, reiterated in an interview with ESPN this week that his decision remains final.
