Skip to main content

Is UFC champion Nurmagomedov 'new face' of Russian soft power in Mideast?

Khabib Nurmagomedov is the first Russian to hold a UFC champion title, but there's more to it when it comes to the Middle East.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 05:  UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov poses for the media during the UFC seasonal press conference at T-Mobile Arena on July 5, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

MOSCOW — This Saturday, Abu Dhabi will host the much anticipated Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, match between Khabib Nurmagomedov, a Russian mixed martial artist, and Dustin Poirier, an American.

Khabib, 30, is nicknamed “The Eagle” and holds the longest undefeated streak in mixed martial arts, or MMA, with 27 wins and no losses. He is the first Russian to win a UFC title. His latest fight with Conor McGregor drew a lot of money and attention and aroused certain political issues. During the traditional pre-match trash talk, the flamboyant Irishman fired off insults at Khabib to spice up the event. Nurmagomedov defeated McGregor in the fourth round via submission in a dominant performance. No sooner had the fight ended, however, did Nurmagomedov​ scale the octagon and try to attack McGregor's teammate, resulting in a massive brawl between the two teams.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.