Khabib Nurmagomedov purchases Russian MMA promotion GFC

We are receiving our first big piece of news about UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov since he announced his retirement after defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

While UFC president thinks the Russian is still willing to do one more fight, in the meantime he has entered an adjacent line of work: fight promotion.

Journalist Azamat Bostanov has revealed that, for a sum of just $1 million US dollars, Nurmagomedov has purchased the Russian MMA promotion Gorilla Fighting Championship (GFC).

GFC, which is headquartered in Khabib’s native Dagestan, shares its name with the energy drink which also happens to be one of his major sponsors.

The promotion’s name will be changed to Eagle Fighting Promotion (EFC), an allusion to Khabib’s nickname (“The Eagle”). Bostanov also notes that, while the promotion has hitherto mostly held events in Russia and former Soviet countries, they seek to expand into the Arab world and possibly even the United States.

Nurmagomedov will be holding a press conference in Moscow on December 2nd where perhaps more details will be unveiled.