Khabib Nurmagomedov Snubbing Female Presenter Kate Abdo Stirs Controversy Among Netizens: “Issue an Apology”

Khabib Nurmagomedov faces backlash for not shaking hands with Kate Abdo during his recent panel interview at the UCL final.

Khabib Nurmagomedov Snubbing Female Presenter Kate Abdo Stirs Controversy Among Netizens: “Issue an Apology”

Khabib Nurmagomedov gets criticized for avoiding Kate Abdo’s handshake (via X)

Khabib Nurmagomedov has always been a proud Muslim and has frequently talked about his faith. The fighter has often credited god for his achievements, which inspired millions of people, particularly Muslims across the world. Throughout his career, the fighter has been constant with his faith and a recent incident has solidified that.

Recently, Nurmagomedov was at the UCL final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, held in Munich, Germany. During his visit, he joined the CBS Sports broadcasting table, which included big names like Thierry Henry and popular streamer IShowSpeed. Being a combat sports legend, Nurmagomedov is well-respected and was warmly welcomed by everyone present on the broadcast panel.

Nurmagomedov shook everybody’s hand except popular host Kate Abdo and simply showed respect with a polite and respectful gesture instead. It was because the fighter is a religious person and doesn’t get in physical contact with any strange woman he meets. Abdo immediately understood the gesture and accepted Nurmagomedov’s beliefs without taking it as any kind of sign of disrespect.

After the video went viral, it created a series of controversies where fans began criticizing Nurmagomedov for his actions. However, this isn’t the first time the fighter has done something like this, remaining consistent with his religious and cultural values. At various press events, Nurmagomedov respectfully declined handshakes from female hosts, offering smiles or gestures instead of physical contact.

In fan meet-and-greets, he interacts warmly with women but never initiates or accepts handshakes. This behavior is also consistent with his teammates and was observed when Usman Nurmagomedov respectfully refused to shake women fighters’ hands. While most situations have been dealt with respect, the internet hasn’t made it easy, sparking debate and criticism online.

Fight fans react to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s not shaking Kate Abdo’s hands

In the CBS panel conversation, Khabib Nurmagomedov talked in detail about his love for soccer and following Real Madrid’s UCL journey for years. He was there to support PSG, which won the final and lifted their first Champions League trophy in the club’s history. The ‘Eagle’ also shared a hilarious moment with IShowSpeed and playfully threatened him for a hypothetical fighting situation.

Khabib Nurmagomedov's beliefs and faith
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s beliefs and faith (via Imago)

Nurmagomedov was also joined by the current pound-for-pound king, Islam Makhachev, in the UCL finals. Both fighters clicked several pictures with PSG players after the win. Nevertheless, here are some reactions from fans after Nurmagomedov’s viral video.

As expected, many fans were disappointed in Nurmagomedov’s behavior and accused him of disrespecting Kate Abdo. They made fun of his beliefs and religion, while others defended the ‘Eagle’ for sticking to his values. On top of that, some praised Abdo for reacting gracefully and Nurmagomedov for humbly declining with respect.

Also Read: