Latest news with #KhabibNurmagomedov


Fox News
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- Fox News
UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov refuses to shake hands with female sportscaster in awkward moment
UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov raised eyebrows over the weekend when he refused to shake hands with CBS Sports broadcaster Kate Scott during UEFA Champions League coverage. Nurmagomedov was among those on hand to watch Paris Saint-Germain trounce Inter Milan to win the UEFA Champions League. It was the first time in the club's history. It also comes in the wake of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi all leaving the club over the last few years. The former UFC fighter, who is Muslim, shook hands with streamer IShowSpeed, Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards and Thierry Henry. As Scott put her hand out, Nurmagomedov kept his hand at his chest. "I apologize, thank you so much," Scott said taking her hand away and putting it toward her chest. It is likely that Nurmagomedov was following his religious beliefs in not shaking hands with Scott. The undefeated UFC fighter is a devout follower of Islam. The religion instructs men not to shake hands with a woman they are not married to. Scott married Malik Scott in 2024. Nurmagomedov was one of the best fighters the UFC has seen in quite a while. He was the first Muslim fighter to win a UFC championship. He retired from the sport following a submission win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in 2020. He was 29-0 in his career. Since his retirement, Nurmagomedov has been in the corner of Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
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First Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Controversy erupts as UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov refuses handshake with presenter Kate Abdo due to 'Muslim beliefs'
UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov's decision to decline a handshake from sports presenter Kate Abdo has led to a massive controversy with online users calling out his behaviour as 'misogynist'. read more A massive controversy has erupted online after Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) legend and former professional mixed martial arts champion Khabib Nurmagomedov refused to shake hands with CBS Sports presenter Kate Abdo, live on TV, after the . Kate Abdo, who is now known as Kate Scott after her marriage to professional boxer Malik Scott, was presenting the post-match show on CBS Sports alongside former footballers Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards and YouTuber IShowSpeed, when Russian Nurmagomedov joined the broadcast. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Unaware of Nurmagomedov's religious beliefs, Kate offered him a handshake, which he declined by holding his hand to his chest. Kate was quick to offer an apology and moved on with the show. More from Football Why did Khabib Nurmagomedov refuse Kate Abdo's handshake? The 36-year-old Nurmagomedov is a devout Sunni Muslim. As per Islam, a person is not allowed to touch a member of the opposite gender if they are not related to each other. Earlier in 2020, MMA fighter Cynthia Calvillo had revealed that Nurmagomedov refused to train with her because of the difference in their gender. 'It's a little bit weird because of their religion… they won't train with women," she had said. '(Khabib) is still showing technique and stuff like that. So I still get to watch it. 'But it doesn't bother me … because they're not really being directly rude to me.' Nurmagomedov handshake act causes controversy Nurmagomedov's refusal to shake hands with Kate, however, led to a controversy on social media as a few users termed the behaviour as 'misogynist'. 'At the Champions League final Russian Muslim Khabib Nurmagomedov @TeamKhabib refused to shake the hand of Kate Scott. She even apologised to the backward, misogynist, former MMA fighter,' a user remarked. At the Champions League final Russian Muslim Khabib Nurmagomedov @TeamKhabib refused to shake the hand of Kate Scott. She even apologised to the backward, misogynist, former MMA fighter. — David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) June 2, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD '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,' wrote another user. Nurmagomedov retired from UFC in 2021 as the reigning lightweight champion and with an undefeated record of 29-0. He is the longest-reigning UFC lightweight champion of all time.


Express Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Khabib Nurmagomedov's sparks praise for Islamic commitment
During CBS's Champions League final broadcast, UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov once again found himself at the centre of cultural conversation—not for his undefeated record in the octagon, but for a quiet moment of religious adherence. As the post-match panel, hosted by sports anchor Kate Scott, reflected on Paris Saint-Germain's 5-0 demolition of Bayern Munich, Nurmagomedov joined the live set alongside YouTuber IShowSpeed. Greeted warmly by the panel including Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards, and Thierry Henry he offered firm handshakes all around. But when Scott extended hers, he respectfully declined. After refusing to shake hands with the female TV presenter, Thierry Henry should have refused to welcome Khabib Nurmagomedov. It would have been a powerful act # — Michaël Pilater (@mikapilater) June 1, 2025 What could have easily turned awkward was instead navigated with calm professionalism. Scott quickly offered a warm apology on-air. 'I apologise, thank you so much. Khabib, UFC fighter, it's a pleasure to have you,' she said, swiftly shifting the conversation to football. Viewers online quickly lauded Nurmagomedov for remaining true to his values. As a devout Sunni Muslim from Dagestan, he follows a tenet of Islam that forbids physical contact with women outside one's family. The act, to many, was more than etiquette; it was a visible expression of religious conviction. Khabib Nurmagomedov is a devout Muslim and a true ambassador of Islam. We admire you for upholding Islamic values, including your respectful stance on avoiding handshakes with women. Much respect, but I wish you were a Barca fan, brother! — Extraordinary Ustaz 👳🏾♂️📿 (@bapphah) June 1, 2025 Some people see boundaries as threats. They can't comprehend that respect in Islam isn't shown by physical contact, but by restraint, principle, and self-discipline. We saw this clearly when @TeamKhabib respectfully declined a handshake during a Champions League panel — a… — Goran Milutinovic (@YouthMLWins) June 1, 2025 refusing to touch another man's wife is the ultimate respect anyone can give someone — H 🦅🔭⚽️ (@OrangeMentosSzn) June 1, 2025 The former UFC lightweight champion has long been open about his beliefs, previously refusing to train with female fighters for the same reasons. While critics may view such decisions through a Western liberal lens, many others see in him a quiet dignity and unwavering spiritual compass. The moment has since drawn praise from Muslim viewers and conservative commentators, calling Nurmagomedov a 'true ambassador of Islam' in the global spotlight an athlete whose faith shapes not only his words, but his every action.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Watch: UFC fighter Khabib refuses to shake hands with Kate Scott over ‘Muslim beliefs'
Credit: CBS Sports Golazo / Paramount+ CBS presenter Kate Scott apologised live on air after UFC Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov refused to shake her hand during their Champions League final coverage. As the team of Scott, known as Kate Abdo before marriage, Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards and Theirry Henry were providing post-match punditry on Paris Saint-Germain's 5-0 victory in Munich they were joined by the former fighter and streamer IShowSpeed live on air. Advertisement Nurmagomedov, who famously beat Conor McGregor in 2018, shook the hand of every member of the panel before awkwardly rejecting the outstretched hand of Scott. The 36-year-old clarified his position to Scott who then apologised for her attempt on air, by saying: 'I apologise, thank you so much. Khabib, UFC fighter, it's a pleasure to have you. We didn't know you were here!' Scott then moved the conversation to asking Nurmagomedov about his love for Paris Saint-Germain before he admitted he was also a Real Madrid man as he joked with Henry about 'breaking his heart' in 2006 after he scored the winner at the Bernabeu in the knockout stages. Nurmagomedov watched PSG win the Champions League alongside Islam Makhachev (right) - Getty Images/Michel Regan It is believed that Nurmagomedov's decision to refuse Scott's hand is because he is a devout Sunni Muslim from the Russian Republic of Dagestan. Advertisement In Islam, it is forbidden for a man to touch any part of a woman whether she is Muslim or non-Muslim unless they are related or married. Scott has been praised for navigating a potential awkward situation with excellent professionalism but it is not the first time the unbeaten former UFC fighter has refused to train with females in the gym because of their beliefs. Speaking about her experience, fellow UFC fighter Cynthia Calvillo said she found their decision 'weird'. She told theScore: 'It's a little bit weird because of their religion ... they won't train with women. '[Nurmagomedov] is still showing technique and stuff like that. So I still get to watch it. But it doesn't bother me because they're not really being directly rude to me.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Khamzat In Danger Of UFC 319 ‘Fraud Check'
Khamzat Chimaev is currently ranked No. 3 at 185 pounds and widely-expected to earn the next crack at defending middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, assuming 'Borz' can make it to fight night without another mysterious medical malady. Don't worry, matchmakers have a backup plan. Advertisement Chimaev's 'special' rise to the top, which included a pit stop at 170 pounds, came with a considerable amount of hype, to the point where fight fans were calling for a potential title shot after just two fights under the UFC banner. Former UFC lightweight, Josh Thomson, wants to pump the brakes. 'How bad is he ... or is he good? We're gonna find out when he fights DDP,' Thomson said on We Want Picks. 'I've said this for the longest time, the sample size is not big enough for me with Chimaev. It's just not big enough. Are we giving him too much credit? Everyone's like, 'Oh, he's muslim, he's got the beard, he can wrestle.' Are we giving him the Khabib credit? No one is like Khabib [Nurmagomedov], nobody is like Islam [Makhachev]. We associate the two things, they are not the same. Khabib didn't get tired. Is [Chimaev] as good as we think? Or we getting a fraud check here with DDP?' Thomson argues the 31 year-old Chimaev (14-0) has been able to capitalize on favorable circumstances, like a washed-up Gilbert Burns, hot-and-cold Kevin Holland, short-notice Kamaru Usman, and even the grill-challenged Robert Whittaker, who already had existing teeth issues. Advertisement 'He's fantastic when he's fresh, but we've seen him wilt in rounds two and rounds three,' Thomson continued. 'He got dropped by Gilbert Burns [at UFC 273] and look at Gilbert since they fought, he can't seem to buy a win right now. So is he as bad or is he as good as people wanna make him? I don't think he's as good as people want him to be. He's fantastic when he's the hammer, I'm not denying that, but what is he like when 'boom' all of the sudden he gets cracked? Is Chimaev that guy, does he fold? Does he break? I'm leaning more towards he does.' We'll find out at UFC 319 this summer in Chicago. More from