Split decisions: Answering this week's pressing MMA questions

In "Split decisions," theScore's Nick Baldwin weighs in on the hottest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week, lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement after a win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.

Former middleweight champ Robert Whittaker extended his winning streak to two with a decision over Jared Cannonier in the event's co-headliner.

And Leon Edwards and Khamzat Chimaev agreed to square off in the welterweight main event of UFC Fight Night on Dec. 19.

Let's discuss.

Is Khabib retired for good?

This question gets asked every time a fighter announces their retirement. There have been plenty of occasions when fighters end up returning to what they know best - fighting. BJ Penn retired and unretired countless times. Anthony Johnson is gearing up for a return after walking away from the sport in 2017. How about that Chuck Liddell-Tito Ortiz trilogy bout in 2018 that shouldn't have happened?

Nurmagomedov's retirement feels different. He said he wouldn't want to continue in the sport without his father and longtime coach, Abdulmanap, who died in July from a heart condition complicated by COVID-19. Nurmagomedov also said he promised his mother he wouldn't fight again after his third title defense against Gaethje.

"If I give my word, I have to follow this," Nurmagomedov said in his postfight interview. "It was my last fight."

Nurmagomedov has a no-nonsense personality and has always valued family, so he'll likely take his promise seriously. Plus, Nurmagomedov never struck me as someone who was in this sport for money and fame. If the UFC comes calling with a great offer for a Conor McGregor rematch in 2021, don't expect Nurmagomedov to say yes.

The only opponent that might get Nurmagomedov thinking about a comeback is Georges St-Pierre. He expressed interest in that matchup as recently as last week, and facing a fellow all-time great would be the perfect way for Nurmagomedov to attempt to make it 30-0.

We're also talking about two retired athletes, so no one should have any confidence in Nurmagomedov versus St-Pierre happening. At the end of the day, Nurmagomedov is most likely done for good. Hopefully, you enjoyed his incredible career while it lasted.

Does Whittaker deserve a rematch with Adesanya?

It's been a little over a year since Whittaker lost the 185-pound title to Israel Adesanya in devastating fashion.

But it's nearly impossible to deny Whittaker a rematch with the current champion after his last two performances.

Whittaker's victory over surging contender Cannonier came after he beat Darren Till in July. Suddenly, the former champ has momentum again. His latest win was particularly impressive, as Adesanya picked Cannonier to "dust" the No. 1-ranked Whittaker and even expressed interest in "The Killa Gorilla" as an opponent.

Whittaker reminded Adesanya - and many fans who counted him out after his loss to "The Last Stylebender" and previous war with Yoel Romero - that he's still an elite middleweight.

No one has a better argument for the next title shot than Whittaker. The only fighter who comes close is Jack Hermansson, and that's if he gets past Till in the Dec. 5 main event. Hermansson, who submitted Kelvin Gastelum in his last bout in July, is the only top-five middleweight coming off a win whom Adesanya hasn't already defeated.

I don't have a huge interest in the Adesanya-Whittaker rematch because of their first meeting's decisiveness, combined with the fact it happened not long ago. But Whittaker has done enough to earn a shot at redemption and could easily be the toughest matchup for Adesanya. If "The Reaper" wants the rematch, the UFC needs to give it to him.

Should Edwards have agreed to face Chimaev?

No. 3-ranked welterweight Edwards is somehow booked to face an unranked fighter in Chimaev.

How did this happen? Wasn't Edwards gunning for a title shot against Kamaru Usman, or at least a big-time matchup against Jorge Masvidal or Gilbert Burns?

Apparently, this is what you get when you play hardball with the UFC.

Edwards, who hasn't competed since July 2019, reportedly turned down multiple bouts in recent weeks, prompting the UFC to remove him from the official rankings. That seemed to be a negotiating tactic because Edwards got back his No. 3 spot as soon as he agreed to fight Chimaev, the sport's hottest prospect.

Though Edwards might've felt forced into taking the fight, I don't think doing so was in his best interest.

"Rocky" has little to gain and a lot to lose against Chimaev. If he wins, people will say Chimaev wasn't ready for that big of a step up in competition, and Edwards may not even get a title shot afterward. If he loses, Edwards may never get a title shot.

It's not surprising Edwards has found himself in a less-than-ideal situation because of all the fights he's turned down. For him to finally give in and agree to fight Chimaev, of all potential opponents, makes no sense.