Latest news with #Khabib
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Awkward on-air moment as Khabib Nurmagomedov snubs CBS Sports host's handshake
Image Source: Getty Images During the 2025 Champions League final, something unexpected happened on live TV. UFC superstar Khabib Nurmagomedov kindly declined a handshake from CBS Sports anchor Kate Scott, which was captured after Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeated Inter Milan 5-0. Khabib's decision was rooted in his Muslim faith, and both his team and Scott also pointed out that his lack of a handshake was different from celebrating with the PSG players after the match. Khabib Nurmagomedov's respectful refusal sparks debate In June 2025, the Champions League final took place at the Allianz Arena in Germany and PSG won 5-0 over Inter Milan. As usual, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards and host Kate Scott led the coverage of the game on CBS Sports.. After the match, Khabib Nurmagomedov and streamer IShowSpeed joined them on the field. Khabib happily shook hands with the male hosts but gently declined Scott's handshake, placing his hand on his chest instead. This is because, as a devout Muslim, his faith does not allow touching unrelated women. Scott apologized on air and kept things friendly. On X, some fans praised Khabib, with one saying, 'Khabib stayed true to his beliefs, respect.' Others thought he could have greeted Scott better, as one user noted, 'He didn't even look at her at first.' The moment got people talking about faith and respect. Kate Scott's professionalism shines through Kate Scott stayed calm and professional despite the awkward moment, winning fans' hearts. She quickly said sorry on air and moved the talk back to PSG's big win, their first Champions League title. Khabib, a huge PSG fan, was thrilled to be there with his friend, UFC fighter Islam Makhachev. They even took pictures with PSG player Achraf Hakimi and the trophy. Also Read : UFC Fans get divided as new training video of middleweight fighter Khamzat Chimaev goes viral ahead of the title bout at UFC 319 This wasn't the first time Khabib's faith shaped how he acts. In 2020, UFC fighter Cynthia Calvillo said Khabib doesn't train directly with women because of his beliefs, but he still shares tips kindly. Scott's smooth handling of the situation kept the show fun and focused on football. The Champions League final was a huge night for PSG, but Khabib's moment with Scott got everyone's attention. His faith as a Sunni Muslim guides him to avoid physical contact with women he's not related to, as noted by Muslim cultural sources.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Explained: Why Khabib Nurmagomedov refused to shake CBS host Kate Scott's hand
UFC Legend Khabib Nurmagomedov Refuses Handshake from CBS Host Kate Scott at Champions League Final/ Image: File, X In an incident that has sparked mixed reactions online, former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov politely refused to shake hands with CBS Sports host Kate Scott during a Champions League final segment. The moment occurred at the Allianz Arena on Saturday night, following Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) stunning 5-0 victory over Inter Milan in the 2025 Champions League final. The incident As the post-match coverage unfolded, Nurmagomedov, who was present alongside fellow UFC star Islam Makhachev, approached the CBS Sports panel. He greeted each of the male pundits, including Thierry Henry , Jamie Carragher, and Micah Richards, with a handshake. However, when Scott, who was previously known as Kate Abdo before her marriage to boxing trainer Malik Scott, extended her hand for a handshake, Khabib respectfully declined. The refusal, which came across as somewhat awkward, led to Scott quickly pulling back her hand. It was clear that the gesture was not a personal affront but a decision based on Khabib's devout Islamic faith. After the exchange, Khabib appeared to clarify his position, explaining to Scott that his refusal was a reflection of his religious beliefs. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Villa Constitución (ver precio) Verisure Undo Scott, understanding the situation, apologized on air. Cultural and religious context Khabib's refusal to shake hands is rooted in his deep commitment to Islam, a faith that prohibits physical contact with members of the opposite sex unless they are close relatives. As a devout Sunni Muslim, Khabib has been open about his adherence to the religious practices that guide his daily life, including interactions with women. This is not the first time Khabib has faced scrutiny for his faith-driven decisions. Back in 2020, UFC fighter Cynthia Calvillo revealed that Khabib would not train directly with her due to her gender, though he would still demonstrate techniques from a distance. "It's a little bit weird because of their religion... they won't train with women," Calvillo told theScore. Despite the awkwardness, she emphasized that Khabib and his team were not rude, and that they still communicated respect. Reactions from Fans and social Media The handshake incident generated a wave of reactions on social media, with many fans praising Khabib for his respectful adherence to his beliefs. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, 'Khabib respectfully declining Kate Abdo's handshake #respect.' Another added, 'Beautiful! Very respectful from Khabib. I love to see this.' However, not all responses were positive. Some fans felt that Khabib's actions were disrespectful towards Scott. One comment stated, 'That didn't seem respectful. Forget about the handshake, he even ignored her and didn't even greet and acknowledge her until she put her hand out.' Despite the brief awkwardness, Khabib quickly shifted the focus of the conversation back to the match and his support for PSG, who had secured their first-ever Champions League title. He was joined by Makhachev, who also celebrated the victory, and the two discussed the game with enthusiasm. Scott, for her part, continued her coverage with professionalism.
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Daniel Cormier, Chael Sonnen discuss Khabib Nurmagomedov retiring 'way too soon'
Daniel Cormier, Chael Sonnen discuss Khabib Nurmagomedov retiring 'way too soon' Show Caption Hide Caption Relive the "The Ultimate Fighter" 20-Year Celebration & Season 33 Q&A A special 20-Year Celebration of The Ultimate Fighter as key figures from show's history sit down for a powerful panel discussion and Season 33 Q&A Two of the UFC's top analysts have thoughts on Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement as the five-year anniversary approaches later this year. Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen, who coached the current Season 33 of "The Ultimate Fighter" opposite each other, had different views on Nurmagomedov retiring as an undefeated UFC lightweight champion. Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) hung up his gloves after notching his third lightweight title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020. He made a promise to his mother that he would no longer compete after his father and coach, Abdulmanap, passed away. "Way too soon," Cormier told Bleacher Report on the timing of Nurmagomedov's retirement. "I thought Khabib could have been fighting today, and there's a chance, because I mean, Islam (Makhachev) is a bit of an extension of who he was. But to know them is to know that when his dad passed, it took a lot away from him. And so when he decided I'm going to do something different, mom's like, 'Hey, you and your father started this journey together, I don't want you to do it without him.' If he made that promise, I knew it was over.'' Sonnen, meanwhile, thinks Nurmagomedov could have been lured by the UFC into fighting again, despite UFC CEO Dana White trying hard to make it happen and failing to bring "The Eagle" back. "I will tell you this: When the UFC started to negotiate with Khabib, they started adding zeros and commas and bigger checks, and bigger checks, and Conor (McGregor) Part 2," Sonnen said. "The UFC missed it. That wasn't the number they needed to change. The number they needed to change was a 155-pound weight class to 170 pound weight class. You would have got Khabib vs. Conor 2. It wasn't that he didn't want to fight, and he didn't want to fight Conor. I don't believe that. He didn't want to beat the scale anymore, and that's the one thing that the company did miss.''
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Is it time to accept the truth? Islam Makhachev is greater than Khabib Nurmagomedov
Islam Makhachev has always done a fine job of emulating Khabib Nurmagomedov. Both fighters were forged in Dagestan, made it to the UFC, won the lightweight title, became pound-for-pound No 1, and gave up the belt in their prime. The question now is whether Makhachev has in fact surpassed his childhood friend. Five years after Khabib vacated the strap, retiring as champion after the death of his father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has relinquished the title. The difference in the latter's case is that he is not done fighting; the gleam of welterweight gold has caught his eye, and like a Magpie, Makhachev has been drawn to it – and so a title shot awaits later this year. Regardless, the end of each Russian's reign saw him keep his word. For Khabib, retiring meant honouring a promise to his grieving mother. For Makhachev, a move up to welterweight could only occur because his friend Belal Muhammad lost the belt. Khabib ended his career aged 32, shockingly, while Makhachev might turn 34 by the time he challenges for the 170lb title. Khabib achieved three successful title defences at lightweight, a joint-record, before Makhachev broke it with four. The friends even have a shared opponent: Dustin Poirier, whom both submitted to retain the title – Khabib in 2019, Makhachev last June. If you want to compare them based on their respective showings against the 'Diamond', Khabib secured the finish in round three to cap off a dominant performance, while Makhachev submitted the American in the fifth and final round, having engaged in a striking shootout for much of the bout (in which he was always one step ahead, truthfully). That brings us to their skillsets. Nurmagomedov, now 36, was one of the greatest examples of complete mastery in one field, so much so that his deficiencies elsewhere were rendered irrelevant. The UFC had never seen such suffocating, indefatigable wrestling before Khabib began providing routine exhibitions of that Dagestani style. However, his striking was at times almost humorously ungainly. That said, it only ever needed to be good enough to set up his wrestling, and the threat of the latter skill kept opponents on edge to the extent that Khabib could land strikes in spite of his technique. The most iconic example came against Conor McGregor, when Khabib feinted a takedown attempt only to launch an overhand at the Irishman, dropping the striking specialist to his backside. It is also worth noting that Khabib's striking did improve slightly over time. Nevertheless, it does not touch Makhachev's. While Makhachev's wrestling is essentially as effective as Khabib's, his kickboxing is leagues above. There was a time when Makhachev, 33, was deemed 'an underrated striker' but not an outright great one; that time has passed, as proven by Makhachev winning the majority of his striking exchanges with Poirier, one of the UFC's best boxers. In fact, these specific skill levels lead one to wonder who would've won between Khabib and Makhachev, who no doubt shared hundreds of sparring rounds over the years, but who would never have faced each other in the Octagon (just as Makhachev waited for Muhammad to lose the 170lb, his plan at 155lb was always to wait for Khabib to leave the division before going for gold). Makhachev, one could imagine, would have the tools to neutralise his friend-turned-coach's greatest strength and exploit his glaring weakness. Some will point to each man's record, specifically how Khabib achieved the rarest feat in MMA: staying unbeaten, and at the elite level, no less. Meanwhile, Makhachev has one professional loss to his name, a first-round knockout by Adriano Martins in 2015. Yet as impressive as Khabib's zero is, there is a feeling that he would have tasted defeat eventually, if he had stayed around long enough – or tested himself at welterweight. On those notes, it feels Makhachev's sole loss should not be overplayed, so common as they are in MMA, and he will be testing himself at 170lb. With that venture, he'll have the chance to deepen his legacy in a way that Khabib did not. And delve further into each man's legacy via his record, Khabib's most notable wins came against McGregor, Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Rafael dos Anjos. All are former undisputed or interim champions, and only 'RDA' escaped a finish against Khabib, while the Russian submitted McGregor, Poirier and Gaethje back-to-back-to-back. An all-time great run, in his final three fights. Makhachev, meanwhile, kickstarted a fearsome run by submitting Charles Oliveira – the UFC's greatest submission artist, statistically – to win the belt. He then outpointed and knocked out featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski across two bouts, before submitting Poirier. And while Volk's size disadvantage could be seen as an asterisk against Makhachev, those fights pitted No 1 vs No 2 on the pound-for-pound list. Khabib retired at 29-0 with 19 stoppages, while Makhachev is 27-1 with 18 stoppages, and the similarity of those records is emblematic of the more general margin between them: a near-imperceptible one. Khabib was unbeaten, but Makhachev had more title defences. Khabib saw off more legends, but Makhachev is the more well-rounded fighter. Khabib retired at his peak, but Makhachev will go on. In that respect, there is still a chance for Makhachev to pull clear of Khabib – or to damage his own legacy in defeat. When it comes to Khabib vs Makhachev in the cage, Indy Sport knows who it would favour. When it comes to their legacies... settle for a draw?
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joe Rogan Says B.J. Penn Was Better Than Khabib Nurmagomedov at His Peak
The UFC's lightweight division has long been considered one of the most talent-rich weight classes in the sport's history. From dominant champions like Khabib Nurmagomedov, B.J. Penn, Frankie Edgar, and Benson Henderson to electrifying contenders, the 155-pound landscape has never lacked drama—or debate. Chief among them: Who is the greatest lightweight of all time? Recently, a familiar voice entered the conversation again. And when Joe Rogan speaks, the MMA world tends to stop and listen. On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, the longtime UFC commentator offered a take that instantly got fans buzzing. Rogan didn't hesitate when reflecting on who he believes deserves lightweight GOAT consideration. 'People talk about Khabib being the greatest lightweight of all time and maybe he is, it's very possible he is—but I would put the B.J. Penn that fought Joe 'Daddy' Stevenson, the B.J. Penn that fought Sean Sherk, the B.J. Penn that was in that peak when he was training with Marinovich, I would put him against anybody.' The comment caught fire quickly and started trending across MMA forums and social media platforms. Joe Rogan reacts to UFC 313 KOChris Unger / Contributor - GETTY The comments sent a ripple through the MMA fanbase. Supporters of Khabib Nurmagomedov, the undefeated former champion, were quick to push back. Some responses included, 'Bro Khabib would beat Penn so bad even Islam, Charles would' and 'He not even top 5.' Others, however, rallied behind the Hall of Famer, claiming 'Prime BJ ruins Khabib.' Advertisement Whether viewed as nostalgia or legitimate analysis, Rogan's comments have reignited a classic debate—one that MMA fans may never agree on. Related: Terence Crawford Speaks Out After UFC Blunder: 'That Was No Accident' Related: Ilia Topuria Teases Major Fight Reveal: Opponent, Date, and Las Vegas Showdown Incoming
