- Khabib Nurmagomedov says Cristiano Ronaldo should retire before "younger" and "hungrier" players "come and take" his place.
- "If you don't leave at the right time, you'll be left behind," the Russian fighter told a reporter, according to RT Sport.
- "My advice to him, and to me as well, is to leave at the right time," he added. "It doesn't matter if it's Cristiano or Khabib, people will come and take your place."
- Ronaldo, 34, has endured his worst start to a domestic season in a decade, scoring just nine times as Juventus sit second in Serie A.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov and Cristiano Ronaldo have struck up an unlikely friendship over the last two years.
The pair even go to watch each other in action from time to time, most recently when Nurmagomedov visited the Santiago Bernabeu to watch Ronaldo stand out for Real Madrid in 2018.
That relationship may be in jeopardy after the Russian's most recent comments however, in which he suggested his Portuguese pal should retire before "younger" and "hungrier" players "come and take" his place.
Nurmagomedov made the remarks when asked by a reporter if he had any "advice on staying fit" for the 34-year-old soccer star, whom "seems not to want to retire" just yet, according to RT Sport.
"Well you know, it's hard to leave something you've done your whole life," Khabib said. "But it doesn't matter whether you want to or not, the time will come when if you don't leave the sport, the sport will leave you.
"If you don't leave at the right time, you'll be left behind as there'll be new champions, younger, hungrier, more motivated guys. You won't same motivation and hunger you've had at the beginning of your career towards its end. Nobody will be around forever, so it's important to leave at the right time.
"How old is [Ronaldo]? 34? At 35 he won't have the same conditioning and reaction time."
Nurmagomedov, 31, also added however that it is time he begins to think about retirement himself.
"The Eagle" most recently defeated Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 in September 2019, and is next scheduled to take on Tony Ferguson in April, 2020, as he looks to defend his UFC lightweight championship for a third time.
"It doesn't matter if it's Cristiano or Khabib, people will come and take your place," he said.
"My advice to him, and to me as well, is to leave at the right time. I haven't taken advice from him about [training and fitness] because right now I feel good, and when I start to fall behind in some areas, I'll probably consult him.
"But for now he's performing, I'm performing and we have no problems."
Ronaldo has had a difficult start to new season with Juventus, scoring just 11 goals in all competitions — his worst return by this point in the season in a decade.
Juventus currently sit second in Serie A, and next face Sampdoria on Wednesday, December 18.
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