Arabian Gulf League club Al Wahda posted tweets of UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov visiting the club's Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
A video posted on the club's official account with the message "Khabib is here". Nurmagomedov is then given a tour of the club's stadium while posing with a No 27 Al Wahda shirt with "Habib" emblazoned across the top as he is surrounded by players and club officials.
Another clip shows Nurmagomedov, 30, in more traditional surroundings and combat attire as he met jiu-jitsu fighters at the club’s academy. Nurmagomedov, wearing a blue Gi, was shown practising moves on one unfortunate practitioner, who was thrown to the ground before Nurmagomedov locked in an arm bar.
As reported by The National last week, Dana White, the UFC president, confirmed the UFC Lightweight champion was due to visit the UAE and it appears his first port of call has been one of the country's leading football clubs.
نرحب بالنجم العالمي للفنون القتالية والمصارعة "حبيب نور محمدوف" في موطن الأبطال.
— AlWahda FC نادي الوحدة (@AlWahdaFCC) October 25, 2018
Welcome @TeamKhabib to Al Wahda! #WHDFC pic.twitter.com/GBAX4xtWah
Nurmagomedov produced the biggest win of his career earlier this month, defeating rival Conor McGregor via fourth round submission to extend his unbeaten MMA record to 27 fights.
However, it was the aftermath to the fight that gained the most attention, when Nurmagomedov climbed over the octagon to attack fellow fighter Dillon Danis and spark a mass brawl. At the same time, Nurmagomedov's friend and training partner Zubaira Tukhugov jumped into the octagon and sucker-punched McGregor.
On Wednesday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted to uphold temporary suspensions for both fighters until a hearing on December 10.
On Monday, Nurmagomedov posted on his offical Facebook account that a showdown against retired boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr slated for next May was “official”, although there has been no confirmation from Mayweather’s camp.
Mayweather had previously fought McGregor when the Irishman took up the cudgels in a boxing match last August, the American winning via a 10th-round knockout.
Al Wahda officials denied The National's request to speak with Nurmagomedov and it is not known how long he will remain in the country.
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