The MMA community is abuzz following an incident involving Usman Nurmagomedov, the cousin of MMA icon Khabib Nurmagomedov. This incident occurred in the aftermath of the highly anticipated Bellator 300 event.
Usman is now attracting attention after declining to shake hands with female combatants at UFC 300.
Following their triumphant title defenses against Cat Zingano and Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, Cris Cyborg and Liz Carmouche were inside the cage. Meanwhile, Usman Nurmagomedov defended the lightweight title against Brent Primus in the main event.
Viral footage circulating on various social media platforms captured Usman avoiding a handshake with the two female competitors. One fan humorously remarked on Usman’s action by saying, “What a chad.”
The incident has sparked a polarized reaction from fans. Some defend Usman, pointing to cultural and religious reasons that may have influenced his decision. On the other hand, some view the act as disrespectful within a professional context.
Usman Nurmagomedov hails from Dagestan and is a devout Muslim. In his religion, physical contact between unrelated individuals of opposite sexes is discouraged.
At Bellator 300, Usman Nurmagomedov exhibited dominance over Brent Primus through five rounds. This performance earned him a unanimous 50-45 scorecard from all judges.
The winner of the Patricky Pitbull vs. Alexandr Shabliy matchup at Bellator 301 is slated to face Usman in the culmination of the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix. At the press conference after the bout, Usman clarified that his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov would not be in Islam Makhachev‘s corner at UFC 294.
Usman Nurmagomedov made a strong statement about his religious beliefs by refraining from shaking hands with female combatants after Bellator 300. Usman is the younger brother of UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov, and both are direct cousins of Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Fans’ opinions on the Bellator champion’s action are diverse. Some commend Usman for adhering to his beliefs, while others find it to be a disrespect to women’s values.
One fan praised Cris Cyborg for showing respect for the Usman’s culture. Another fan observed the mutual respect shared among the three combatants. On a lighter note, a fan amusingly pointed out Cris Cyborg’s move to block Liz Carmouche’s extended hand.