Many MMA athletes, including well-known figures like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Muhammad Mokaev, have expressed their increasing displeasure with Vladimir Putin’s push for conscription.
There has been fierce opposition to Russia’s military mobilization which required thousands of Russian men to be forced to take part in the country’s continuing war with Ukraine.
In various videos that have appeared online, women are seen chasing away police officers in violent conflicts. Over on telegram many are lauding these women as Dagestani heroes over mixed martial artists.
A group of women successfully chases away a lone policeman at an anti-mobilisation protest in Dagestan https://t.co/TBCl9khPGK pic.twitter.com/jwJLqVPIcO
— Francis Scarr (@francis_scarr) September 25, 2022
Khabib Nurmagomedov, a former UFC lightweight champion, voiced his displeasure writing in an Instagram post.
“But we are not ready ….”
The caption was accompanied with a photo of a graveyard.
Born in Dagestan and now a refugee in the UK, Muhammad Mokaev responded to the suffering of his people with a long post that read:
“As salaam aleikum! A very bad situation is happening in Dagestan, you oppress your own people, it is clear that you have an order to stop the rally, but you can do without pulling women and shooting in the air. If you are going to be taken away tomorrow, your women will stand up for you as well.”
“Do your job carefully without stressing your own people, tomorrow you do not know what the situation will be in your homes! In Dagestan, people have so small salaries, men earn as much as they can, and they are taken away to fight… understand your own people, at least women! Give patience to all the people of the Caucasus in this difficult time! New Year’s Eve at #Дaгестан #Кавказ”
[Translated]
UFC lightweight contender Magomed Mustafaev and PFL welterweight competitor Magomed Umalatov have joined the move and voiced their opposition in a series of posts posted on their Instagram accounts.
The caption for Mustafaev said:
“May Allah humiliate all the supresors.”
The caption of Umalatov said:
“May the Almighty humiliate all opressors.”
Throughout his spectacular fighting career, Khabib Nurmagomedov was a key player in promoting Dagestan. In the wake of Russia’s military mobilization, Khabib has offered assistance to his community.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has never publicly expressed his opinions on the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, it is noteworthy that at the beginning of his fighting career, Nurmagomedov entered the ring carrying the Ukrainian flag.