UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov has once again shared his strong opinions regarding women’s participation in mixed martial arts. The celebrated former lightweight champion expressed his clear disapproval of women competing in MMA, stating he finds it challenging to watch female fighters take blows to the face during fights or training sessions.
During a recent interview, when asked for his thoughts on the development of women in MMA, Nurmagomedov began by posing a rhetorical question: “How do you feel about getting hit in the face?” He then elaborated on his perspective, acknowledging that his views might attract criticism. “The most precious thing on our body is our face, right? Every day, we all look in the mirror and want to look good. Men may look once, but if women have a mirror with them, they look 1000 times a day,” he asserted.
Nurmagomedov further explained his stance, emphasizing what he perceives as the inherent brutality of the sport. He stated, “There are women who chose this sport. It’s their choice. They chose it. If you ask me, I wouldn’t choose this sport for women. It’s brutal for men, first of all. For women, I don’t even consider it…. For me, it’s still something wild when a woman gets hit in the face.”
The retired fighter also discussed traditional gender roles, asserting his belief that God created women to be “weaker” and men “stronger.” He expressed his preference for societal structures where “a man does men’s work, and a woman does women’s work.” He elaborated, “Every person in life has a mission. For a man, it’s to raise children, take care of the family, and take care of loved ones. There are very few women who take on big responsibilities. It’s very hard for them. It’s not without reason. God created it this way: A woman is weaker, a man is stronger. People want to change and mix all of this. I don’t know how you feel about it, but I like when a man does men’s work, and a woman does women’s work.” While acknowledging the importance of self-defense for women, Nurmagomedov reiterated his firm belief in distinct gender roles.
This isn’t the first instance where Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments on women in combat sports have drawn significant attention. He previously sparked controversy by referring to ring girls in MMA as “the most useless” aspect of the sport.