UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov reacts to horrific terror attack in his hometown of Dagestan, Russia
Former UFC lightweight world champion Khabib Nurmagomedov issued a statement following the horrific terrorist attack in his hometown of Dagestan, Russia.
According to a report from CNN, gunmen opened fire on multiple places of worship in what appears to have been a coordinated attack. At least 15 police officers and four civilians were killed, including one Orthodox priest. Sergey Melikov, head of the Dagestan Republic, said at least six “militants” were also killed following the attacks on churches, synagogues, and police posts.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Nurmagomedov took to Instagram following the attacks, sharing a black box to mourn the victims and writing:
“My condolences to all the relatives and friends of the victims. May Allah save us all from such institutions and grant us a peaceful sky over our heads. Take care of yourself and your loved ones and let everyone look around themselves and around their children with whom they interact with and who is around them. Educating souls is more important than educating bodies.”
One of the militants identified as an MMA fighter with ties to Khabib Nurmagomedov and his father
According to Sports Politika founder Karim Zidan, five of the gunmen were killed by Russian Special Forces, one of them identified as Gadzhimurad Kagirov, an MMA fighter who had ties to Nurmagomedov and his late father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
Kagirov, 28, was a master of sport (an honorary title for successful athletes in Russia) in freestyle wrestling before transitioning to mixed martial arts under the tutelage of Abdulmanap. He competed in two fights in 2021 while representing Nurmagomedov’s Eagle MMA gym, a training facility founded by jailed Dagestani oligarch Ziyavudin Magomedov.
Making his pro MMA debut in April 2021, Kagirov scored a first-round knockout against Basyr Ibragimov under the GC Entertainment banner. He followed that up with a unanimous decision victory over Dzhambulat Bagaev at the promotion’s follow-up event in November that same year.
