He returns a champion.
They worship their fighters in Dagestan and Khabib Nurmagomedov is the biggest warrior they have.
Dagestan is a republic of Russia. It’s an ethically diverse place in the North Caucasus region that has a population bordering on three million.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has put the Republic of Dagestan on the map over the last few years with the undefeated, all conquering trail he’s blazed in MMA.
Since The Eagle’s debut in the octagon in 2012, he’s gone on a 27 fight winning run with his most recent victory coming against Conor McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
Nurmagomedov was typically dominant in Sin City, wearing McGregor out with his abrasive and hugely intense ground game on his way to retaining his lightweight title at UFC 229.
The impressive triumph was marred by Khabib’s lack of grace in victory, however. Rather than leaving the bad-blood between himself and McGregor behind in the ring, the 30-year-old allowed it to spill over to the fight’s aftermath.
Like a man possessed, the fighter leapt over the cage and into McGregor’s corner, causing disturbing scenes ringside. As a result of his indiscretion, he saw his €3 million payday withheld by the Las Vegas NSAC and the possibility also arose that he may have his belt stripped from him in the aftermath.
The folk of Russia, the folk of Dagestan won’t hold that against him though. Khabib returned home on Monday night and his people gave him some reception. A football stadium was packed out in Dagestan, with those present invading the pitch the moment the champion stepped on stage.
https://twitter.com/DenisGeykoRT/status/1049416132078313472
And he got his hands on that belt over there too.
Khabib Nurmagomedov did finally receive the #UFC lightweight belt, which Dana White refused to give him after the post-fight brawl with Conor McGregor’s team. Here he is lifting it to his fans at his homecoming in Dagestan @TeamKhabib @TheNotoriousMMA #KhabibMcGregor pic.twitter.com/O31xd0Xkyd
— Danny Armstrong (@DannyWArmstrong) October 8, 2018
