Khabib Nurmagomedov believes MMA should prioritize sport over entertainment, criticizing U.S. promotions for favoring trash talk over talent and expressing concern over the exclusion of skilled fighters from regions like Dagestan.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has a clear stance on MMA: it should prioritize sport over entertainment, from the UFC on down. This perspective is deeply rooted in his experiences and observations, particularly in Dagestan.
Discussing the state of MMA in Dagestan, Khabib highlighted the region’s success in and out of the UFC. He was asked about the future for this talent-rich area.
“I feel very bad for U.S. promotions,” Khabib stated at the World Sports Summit. “There are so many hungry fighters who don’t trash talk. They just come, smash people, and take money. U.S. promotions prefer entertainment.”
He acknowledges that business plays a role but insists, “At the end of the day, this is sport. It’s about who is the best in the world.”
Khabib’s illustrious career has inspired his team, including welterweight champ Islam Makhachev and bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov. His journey to the title was long, but he had a path—something he’s concerned about for young fighters today.
“A lot of young guys are coming,” he explained. “In my gyms in Dagestan, 500 amateurs want to be champions. How are you going to stop them?”
He noted some promotions avoid signing these talented fighters. “They follow politics and just don’t sign them. I don’t like this,” he admitted.
Recent UFC roster decisions have puzzled fans. Rinat Fakhretdinov, unbeaten over seven UFC fights, wasn’t re-signed despite a recent knockout victory.
Khabib believes speaking out might change this narrative. “At the end of the day, this is sport. It has to be fair,” he said. “They cut fighters who don’t even lose. They just finish contracts without renewals.”
“Honestly, someone has to talk about this,” Khabib concluded. “This is what I don’t like.”