UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov has once again voiced his clear and unwavering opposition to women competing in mixed martial arts. The retired Russian fighter stated that he finds it difficult to watch female athletes engage in combat, whether in training or during fights.
During a recent discussion where he was asked for his perspective on the growth of women’s MMA, Nurmagomedov posed a question to a female reporter:
“How do you feel about getting hit in the face?”
The 37-year-old acknowledged that his views might attract criticism, but he elaborated on his reasoning, highlighting the importance of appearance. He explained:
“The most precious thing on our body is our face, right? Every day, we all look in the mirror and want to look good. Men may be once, but if women have a mirror with them, they look 1000 times a day.”
Khabib’s Deeper Explanation Against Women in the Octagon
Nurmagomedov further expanded on his perspective, emphasizing his personal discomfort with women participating in such a violent sport. While respecting individual choice, he stated unequivocally:
“There are women who chose this sport. It’s their choice. They chose it. If you ask me, I wouldn’t choose this sport for women. It’s brutal for men, first of all. For women, I don’t even consider it… For me, it’s still something wild when a woman gets hit in the face.”
He clarified that he supports women learning self-defense but underscored his belief in traditional societal roles. “The Eagle” asserted that he believes in a divine order where women are inherently “weaker” and men “stronger.” He articulated his preference for distinct gender responsibilities:
“Every person in life has a mission. For a man, it’s to raise children, take care of the family, and take care of loved ones. There are very few women who take on big responsibilities. It’s very hard for them. It’s not without reason. God created it this way: A woman is weaker, a man is stronger. People want to change and mix all of this. I don’t know how you feel about it, but I like when a man does men’s work, and a woman does women’s work.”
Nurmagomedov has previously sparked debate with similar comments concerning women’s roles within MMA, notably referring to ring girls as “most useless.”
