Khabib Nurmagomedov attended a Real Madrid training session and expressed his deep connection to the Spanish football club. The former UFC lightweight champion stated that he followed football since childhood and never imagined he would one day be invited by the world's best clubs. Nurmagomedov mentioned visiting numerous stadiums and training centers of different clubs throughout his career. He specifically declared Real Madrid as "the club of my heart," emphasizing his longstanding emotional attachment to the team.
Khabib Nurmagomedov swapped the octagon for the training pitch this week, visiting a Real Madrid session on April 17 and using the occasion to publicly declare his allegiance to the Spanish football giants.
The retired UFC lightweight champion, who finished his career with a perfect 29-0 record, spoke warmly about a lifelong connection to the sport. He said football has been part of his life since childhood and that he never expected to one day receive invitations from the world's most prestigious clubs. Nurmagomedov noted that over the years he has toured stadiums and training facilities belonging to a number of different clubs, but left no ambiguity about where his heart lies, describing Real Madrid as "the club of my heart."
Nurmagomedov, now 37 and originally from Russia, remains one of the most decorated athletes in MMA history. Fighting out of Fightspirit Team and competing as an orthodox striker, he built his legendary 29-0 record on a suffocating wrestling-based game plan. He averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career, a figure that consistently overwhelmed opponents at 155 pounds. He also showed respectable striking output, landing 4.1 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Nurmagomedov remains one of the most globally recognized combat sports figures, and his public appearances continue to draw significant attention to MMA beyond its core audience.
- His ongoing relationship with high-profile sports institutions keeps his profile prominent more than four years after retirement.
- The visit underlines the crossover appeal between elite MMA and European football culture, reflecting the sport's continued growth in international markets.
