UFC World Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has been voted BBC Sports Personality’s World Sport Star of the Year.
The Russian, 32, extended his perfect professional record to 29 wins with a victory over interim champion Justin Gaethje in October just months after the death of his father, coach and mentor Abdulmanap.
Moments after defeating Gaethje with a triangle choke submission, Nurmagomedov symbolically placed his gloves on to the cage mat and said: “It was my last fight. There’s no way I’m going to come here (again) without my father.”
Considered by some to be the greatest Mixed Martial Arts fighter of all time, Nurmagomedov’s 29-0 record in MMA included 13 straight victories under the UFC banner.
He successfully defended his lightweight title on three occasions, and was seen as one of the most dominant athletes in MMA history.
Topping an online public vote, Nurmagomedov beat off competition from Swedish pole vaulter Armand Duplantis, American basketball great LeBron James, American golfer Dustin Johnson, French footballer Wendie Renard, and Irish boxer Katie Taylor.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year takes place on Sunday at 20:00 GMT, live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.
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