At a press conference in Phuket, UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov was asked by a real estate agent about his thoughts on women competing in MMA and the UFC.
The exchange began casually. The woman first asked whether Khabib would be willing to tour properties with her before his departure the following day. He politely declined, explaining that his schedule was already full. She then followed up with a more personal question about women participating in combat sports.
Khabib opened with a lighthearted remark, acknowledging that he expected backlash for his views.
“How do you feel when you are beaten in the face?” he said. “Now they will criticize me again and so on.”
He then shifted to explaining his perspective, framing his concern around the importance of protecting one’s appearance.
“The most expensive thing on our body is the face, right?” he said. “Every day we all look in the mirror and want to look good. Men, maybe once a day if they want. Women carry a mirror with them, they look many times a day. Well, maybe not a thousand times, but at least a hundred.”
Despite his reservations, Khabib acknowledged that some women willingly choose to pursue combat sports and that he respects their autonomy.
“There are women who choose this sport. It is their choice,” he said. “But if you ask me personally, I would not choose this sport for women. It is very cruel, even for men, first of all.”
He clarified that he supports women training in martial arts for self-defense and personal development.
“If they want to come to the gym and train, and learn how to stand up for themselves, that is good,” he said. “There are women who want to practice so that if someone attacks them, they can defend themselves. Let them train, there is no problem with that.”
Still, he remained firm about his discomfort with women competing in professional matches.
“For me, in any case, it feels wild when a woman is beaten in the face,” he said. “Whether it is a man competing against a woman or a woman competing against another woman, it is difficult for me to accept.”
Khabib then connected his views to family roles, particularly motherhood, describing how his upbringing shaped his perspective.
“Especially when a woman is a mother or has children,” he said. “She spends her whole day taking care of her kids, and then she goes somewhere to get hit in the face. I did not see this when I was growing up. Later, when I became strong, traveled, and started competing, I saw it. And people ask me how I feel about it. I don’t feel comfortable with it at all.”
He concluded with a broader statement about traditional gender roles and responsibilities, emphasizing what he believes are distinct roles for men and women in society.
“Every person in this life has a mission,” he said. “A man’s mission is to raise children, take care of his family, take care of his loved ones, his neighbors, and his relatives. There are women who take on big responsibilities too, but it is very hard for them.”
He added: “Even the Almighty created us differently. A woman is physically weaker, and a man is stronger. People want to change everything and make fun of it. I don’t know how you feel about it, but I like it when a man is engaged in male affairs, and a woman is engaged in female affairs.”
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated and edited for clarity and readability.]
