Khabib Nurmagomedov Opposes Women's Professional MMA

Khabib Nurmagomedov, the retired UFC lightweight champion and Hall of Famer, reiterated his opposition to women competing professionally in mixed martial arts during a question-and-answer session at a Sun Hills Development event in Phuket, Thailand, last week.

The 35-year-old Russian fighter, known for his undefeated 29-0 record, responded to a question from a female audience member about the growth of women's MMA. He acknowledged that some women choose the sport but emphasized his personal discomfort with it. "How do you personally feel when you go to the gym and get hit in the face?" Nurmagomedov asked. "You haven't been hit. But you don't need that. But there are women who choose this sport. It's their choice. They chose it. If you ask me, I wouldn't choose this sport for women. It's brutal even for men, first of all. For women, it's... I don't even consider it."

Nurmagomedov, a devout Muslim who retired in 2020, rooted his views in traditional gender roles and his cultural upbringing. He described professional fighting as unsuitable for women, particularly mothers, because of the physical toll on their faces and bodies. "For me, it's still something wild when a woman gets...