Khabib Nurmagomedov attended a Real Madrid training session and reaffirmed his lifelong support for the club. The retired UFC champion stated he followed football from childhood and never imagined he would one day be invited by the world's best clubs. He mentioned visiting many stadiums and training centers of different clubs throughout his career. Khabib specifically declared that Real Madrid is the club of his heart among all he has visited.
Retired UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov paid a visit to a Real Madrid training session and took the opportunity to reaffirm his lifelong devotion to the Spanish club, according to a report dated April 17, 2026.
The 37-year-old Russian, who finished his professional MMA career with a perfect 29-0-0 record and never lost the UFC lightweight title, has long been a visible figure in the football world during his post-fighting years. Nurmagomedov, nicknamed "The Eagle," noted that his connection to football dates back to childhood and that he had visited stadiums and training facilities belonging to numerous clubs over the course of his career. He described the Real Madrid invitation as something he could scarcely have imagined when he was growing up, and made clear that among all the clubs he has experienced firsthand, Real Madrid holds a special place as the club of his heart.
Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in October 2020 after submitting Justin Gaethie, walking away as arguably the most dominant lightweight in the sport's history. During his career he averaged 5.32 takedowns per fifteen minutes and landed significant strikes at a rate of 4.1 per minute, finishing opponents on the canvas and on the mat with equal authority. His wrestling-based style, developed in Dagestan, Russia, made him a singular force at 155 pounds, and his unblemished record remains one of the most discussed achievements in combat sports.
Why it matters
- Khabib remains one of the most recognizable athletes globally, and his public appearances continue to draw significant attention to MMA.
- His ongoing relationship with elite football clubs reinforces the crossover appeal between combat sports and the broader sporting world.
- As a retired champion with a 29-0 record, any public activity involving Nurmagomedov generates widespread media interest across multiple sports audiences.
