“He was never part of the team!” Khabib Nurmagomedov SHUTS DOWN links to gunman from Dagestan terror attacks

A member of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagles MMA was reportedly one of the gunmen responsible for Sunday’s terrorist attack in Dagestan. In an Islamic republic in the south of the country, gunmen stormed police stations, churches, and synagogues, killing many. It has taken notice of the MMA community, and Khabib has made a statement.

The perpetrators set a synagogue ablaze after killing the police guarding it. There have been reports of the deaths of at least 15 police officers and the execution of a Russian Orthodox priest. The coordinated attack targeted the cities of Derbent — an ancient Jewish community, and Makhachkala on the Orthodox festival of Pentecost. Khabib cleared the air around the one-time fighter – Ghadzimurad Kagirov:

How can this be normal? My children live there...my mother lives there, my family lives there, my brother, relatives they’re five minutes away from that place...The terror*st is not our student...Yes, he had a camp at the gym at some point, maybe for a couple of months. But he was never part of the team.

Khabib Nurmaagomedov via Ruptly.tv – @ANO TV Novosti (H/T: Red Corner MMA, @RedCorner_MMA)

With Dagestan and the scope of combat sports grappling with the tragedy, Khabib Nurmagomedov also had to address the aftermath. Advocating religious co-existence, Nurmagomedov put forward the deep impact it had on his hometown. According to Russian authorities’ statements to Visegrád 24, Al Jazeera, OC-Media.org, and other outlets, 15 officers and five civilians were victims of the attack.

With the investigation proceeding solely on official reports and footage from Dagestan’s interior ministry, old rival Conor McGregor took to rekindle a #conorwasright movement. His viral UFC 229 pre-fight presser with Khabib saw him dissing manager Ali Abdelaziz and Ziyavudin Magomedov on the connotation of terroristic activities. With similar blame, Khabib expresses his sorrow for the ordeal.

Khabib Nurmagomedov calls attention to and condemns inhumane acts of violence

Russia’s North Caucasus spot of Dagestan has been subject to many attacks and significant casualties. However, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has always risen to address such broader societal issues and call for stability and peace.

‘The Eagle’ does not take well to blame games on religious sects or particular groups of people without solid evidence in anti-terror operations. When French president Emmanuel Macron put the attacks outside Nice’s Notre Dame Basilica as an “Islamist terror attack,” Khabib fired back. Now, with people linking the terror attack in his homeland with his Eagle MMA, he pitches in.

Going into a church and killing someone just because they practice a different religion... Do I really need to condemn this? Isn’t it clear that this is a brutal and inhumane act? In Dagestan, over 30 nationalities, and of course, the majority practice Islam, but we also have Jews and Christians. This has never happened in 30-35 years, as long as I’ve lived in Dagestan.

Khabib Nurmaagomedov further said (H/T: Red Corner MMA, @RedCorner_MMA)

Religious tolerance is part and parcel of Khabib’s fundamental practices. His friendship with Daniel Cormier, for example, is quite a famed affair. The Dagestan government has called for three days of mourning in the region. Flags are set to be flown at half-mast across the republic, with minimal media coverage.

Echoing the community’s pleas for stability, Khabib has called for understanding and peace. Following the incident, ‘Eagle’ has also taken to social media to send messages to those affected.

In case you missed it:

• “Treat me like family,” Emotional coach Javier Mendez shares ‘unreal’ Team Khabib experience of respect and loyalty
• Khabib Nurmagomedov Net worth, MMA Career, Income, Wife, Coach, and more

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