Grieving Khabib can decide when he wants to return

Abu Dhabi - Khabib, who has a massive fan following in the Middle East, was expected to compete in Abu Dhabi this September

The UFC will allow lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who lost his father Abdulmanap on July 3, to decide when he wants to return to the cage.
Khabib, who has a massive fan following in the Middle East, was expected to compete in Abu Dhabi this September - exactly a year after his last appearance for UFC 242.
In June, UFC President Dana White revealed that Abu Dhabi was the frontrunner to host the Khabib versus Justin Gaethje unification fight.
However, following the demise of Khabib's father, who was also his coach and mentor, the UFC is giving him time to decide on his future.
"We feel horrible for Khabib. We know how much he loves his father and how close they were," White told reporters in Fight Island, Abu Dhabi.
"We're just giving him time to mourn and heal, and do whatever he needs to do. We're not bothering him at all right now. We're just leaving him alone."
When asked if the lightweight title would still be decided in September, White added: "We're not messing with Khabib right now. Khabib is going to need time to get his head straight and figure out what's next for him. We're just going to leave him alone for a little while."
The Russian superstar is the first Muslim to win a title in the UFC. But the 31-year-old mixed martial artist hasn't fought since his UFC 242 victory over Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com