UFC president Dana White revealed after Khabib Nurmagomedov's win over Justin Gaethje that the lightweight champion injured his foot three weeks before the fight.
"Apparently, he was in the hospital," White said at the UFC 254 postfight press conference, according to MMA Fighting. "He broke his foot three weeks ago. So he has two broken toes and a bone in his foot that's broken, or something like that.
"That's what his corner was telling me. (Nurmagomedov) never told anybody, (and he was) walking around."
Nurmagomedov's coach, Javier Mendez, told Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole Nurmagomedov had the mumps two weeks before he started his training camp for the Gaethje bout.
"This was the worst camp we've ever had in the sense of preparation," Mendez said. Accommodations were the best ever; hospitality was the best ever. But we had so much bad luck."
Mendez confirmed Nurmagomedov broke a toe in training.
Nurmagomedov submitted Gaethje in the second round of Saturday's main event. He announced his retirement after extending his professional record to 29-0.
