Khabib Nurmagomedov has made his position on Andrew Tate unmistakably clear through a pointed social media gesture that has captured attention across combat sports circles.
According to sources, he retired UFC champion recently liked an Instagram post that delivered a scathing assessment of Tate and fellow influencer Jake Paul. The post criticized both men for what it described as manufactured personas designed to exploit vulnerable audiences.
“Performative masculinity vs. reality,” the caption began. “The fact that these two men (Andrew Tate and Jake Paul) have managed to amass tens of millions of disciples worldwide by mimicking a brash, misogynistic, cartoonish ‘tough-guy’ persona, says less about strength and more about widespread insecurity and intellectual laziness.”
The message continued with an even sharper critique: “Cosplay for men who confuse volume with authority and cruelty with power.”
The post went further, highlighting concerns about how digital platforms amplify certain voices. “It’s alarming how effortlessly the algorithmic turns the fragile egos of millions of men & young men out there into movements. This is why digital platforms that profit from radicalizing the emotionally underdeveloped, while calling it ‘free expression,’ need to be regulated.”
Khabib’s endorsement of these sentiments arrives as Tate faces mounting professional setbacks. DAZN, the streaming service with a broadcast agreement covering Misfits Boxing events, has refused to air Tate’s scheduled debut against former American football player Chase DeMoor next month in Dubai. The decision represents a rare instance where commercial considerations have been overridden by reputational concerns.
Tate currently faces charges in the United Kingdom related to serious allegations, all of which he denies. Beyond the legal matters, critics have consistently pointed to his history of promoting messages that denigrate women and celebrate aggressive behavior.
The relationship between Khabib and Tate has been notably one-sided. Tate previously praised the Dagestani champion following his victory over Conor McGregor, specifically highlighting Khabib’s religious discipline ahead of that contest. When shown footage of Tate’s comments in 2024, Khabib responded without naming him directly.
“I think more than important I always surprised why people surprised if I know something. Like, for example, about my religion or about my country. It’s, everybody has to know this,” Khabib said.
For Misfits Boxing, DAZN’s refusal to broadcast the event marks a turning point. The organization has built its brand around controversy and spectacle, regularly featuring personalities whose conduct falls well outside traditional sporting standards. Regulators have already suspended Misfits’ promoter licenses, citing repeated safety violations and disregard for established protocols. The brand continued operating regardless, suggesting that criticism would not alter its course.
But losing DAZN’s global distribution network removes both financial incentive and legitimacy. Misfits can still stage the event, but without a major platform attached, the reach and perceived importance diminish considerably.
Tate has spent recent weeks generating promotional content, filming training sessions aboard private aircraft, posing at various gyms, and sparring in front of camera crews dedicated to documenting his preparation. He has framed himself as a figure who welcomes opposition and believes all criticism stems from an attack on masculinity itself. He even claimed, without official clarification from Misfits, that he had assumed a leadership role within the organization.
Within established boxing communities, frustration has grown steadily. Coaches running grassroots programs emphasize that influencer-driven exhibitions undermine years of effort spent teaching discipline and respect.
They argue that casual viewers increasingly cannot distinguish between legitimate competition and manufactured spectacle, and that brands like Misfits damage the sport’s reputation while elevating individuals who would struggle to maintain any credible role in a regulated environment.
Recent events have included matchups featuring participants with minimal experience, leading to troubling outcomes that raised immediate safety questions. The Professional Boxing Association cited these concerns alongside repeated rule violations when issuing its suspension.
