UFC icon signs a professional FOOTBALL contract with Russian third division side

Khabib Nurmagomedov was crushing Justin Gaethje for 29–0 in the UFC 10 months ago, now he's set for the football pitch after signing with a Russian third-tier club.

The former lightweight champion retired after his final mauling victory against the American, dominating the fight in the wake of his father's passing. The Dagestani's decision to bow-out aged just 32 was down to a promise made to his mother.

Since then he has continued to train and taken up football, talking of his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo and posting videos of training sessions.

The MMA icon is now targeting football professionally, having signed a professional contract with FC Legion Dynamo, who play in the third division of Russian football.

The club, who finished fourth in their league last season, announced the signing on online by posting a shot of Khabib shaking the hand of a Dynamo official over a contract.

'A great battle awaits our Legion, for which we need great warriors,' the club said in a statement. 'We are preparing to receive the RPL team together with Khabib Nurmagomedov.'

The president of Legion Dynamo added: 'I already see Khabib as a sharp striker. He can enter the amount into the contract himself.

'Khabib pleasantly surprised with his understanding of football and its development'

Nurmagomedov left the octagon at the top of his game, having crushed his fierce rival Conor McGregor to rack up four title defences.

Now he's turning his dedication and winning mentality to the pitch, and it wouldn't be a shock to see him make vast improvements.

Back in January Khabib tweeted: 'Preparing for my football debut. I’m free agent, and ready to accept offers.'

In a Facebook Q&A the former fighter said: 'A lot of football clubs, they offer me. But I have to, a little bit, become football shape. Because football shape is a little bit different than MMA.

'Football for me is like baseball. I watched this all the time when I was growing up, like I remember watching the old Ronaldo, the Brazilian one before Cristiano.'