Khabib Nurmagomedov Repeats Controversial Opinion on Women in MMA
Khabib Nurmagomedov has once again ignited widespread debate by reiterating his contentious viewpoint that women should not participate in mixed martial arts. The former UFC lightweight champion, who first voiced this opinion in 2018, has stood firm on his position during a recent public question-and-answer session.
Historical Context and Immediate Backlash
Eight years ago, Nurmagomedov caused significant outrage when he suggested that women should remain at home rather than engage in cage fighting. His remarks at the time drew heavy criticism from fans, fellow athletes, and advocacy groups. Despite the backlash, the retired fighter has not wavered in his beliefs, as demonstrated in his latest comments.
"Now people will criticise me again and so on," Nurmagomedov stated. "But look, the most precious thing on our body is our face, right? Every day we all look in the mirror and want to look good. Men maybe once, but if women have a mirror with them, they look 1,000 times a day. At least 100."
Detailed Rationale and Personal Perspective
Nurmagomedov elaborated on his stance by questioning the appeal of physical combat for women. "How do you personally feel when you go to the gym and get hit in the face? You haven't been hit. But you don't need that. But there are women who choose this sport. It's their choice. They chose it. If you ask me, I wouldn't choose this sport for women. It's brutal even for men, first of all. For women it's... I don't even consider it."
He did acknowledge that women might train for self-defence purposes, saying, "If they want to come to the gym and train to be able to defend themselves, there are women who think they can come, train, and if someone attacks them, they can defend themselves. Well, there are such women. Let them go and train, no problem."
However, he maintained a critical view of professional competition, adding, "But for me, it's still something wild when a woman gets hit in the face. Whether it's a man hitting or a woman hitting a woman. Especially if a woman is a mother, or has a couple of kids. She spends the whole day getting hit in the face and then comes home. Where I grew up, I didn't see anything like that."
Broader Philosophical and Cultural Arguments
Nurmagomedov extended his argument to include traditional gender roles and biological differences. "Every person in life has a mission. For a man, it's to raise children, take care of the family, take care of loved ones, neighbours, relatives. There are very few women who take on big responsibilities. It's very hard for them. It's not without reason. Even God created it this way. A woman is weaker, a man is stronger."
He concluded with a call for adherence to conventional gender norms, stating, "People want to change and mix all of this. I don't know how you feel about it, but I like when a man does men's work, and a woman does women's work. You're not kids. Decide for yourselves."
This latest reiteration of his views is likely to provoke further discussion within the sports community, particularly as women's MMA continues to grow in popularity and prominence globally.
