Khabib Nurmagomedov has released a full statement after footage showed him being removed from a plane.
Footage of retired UFC superstar Nurmagomedov went viral, which showed him rowing with a flight attendant on a plane.
TikTok – Viceplayer28Nurmagomedov was seen arguing on a plane with a flight attendant[/caption]
Nurmagomedov was seen leaving the plane after being urged to change seats, to which he protested against given it appeared to be related to his ‘ability to speak’ English in an event of an emergency.
‘The Eagle’ was furious and suggested that he boarded a different flight 90 minutes later, after his treatment on the Frontier Airlines flight.
And the 36-year-old has now released a statement clarifying his version of events.
It read: “First of all, I need to clarify that it was [Frontier Airlines], not Alaska Air.
“Lady who comes to me with questions was very rude from the very beginning, even though I speak very decent English and can understand everything and agreed to assist, she still insists on removing me from my seat.
“What was the base for that, racial, national or other one, I’m not sure.
“But after 2 minutes of conversation, she called security and I was deplaned from this aircraft, after [an hour and a half] I boarded another airline one and left to my destination.
“I did my best to stay calm and respectful as you can see on the video.
“But those crew members could do better next time and just be nice with clients.”
Nurmagomedov repeatedly told the attendant that the situation ‘wasn’t fair’ but eventually cooperated after being left hugely frustrated.
TikTok – Viceplayer28Nurmagomedov was subsequently removed[/caption]
His manager Ali Abdelaziz shared a similar stance, releasing a similar statement to MMA Fighting.
He added: “Some things happen to you maybe in a negative way but Khabib always comes out on top because of his mannerism and his class. This is who he is as a human being.”
The incident has attracted huge attention and has even seen organisations threaten to action.
After the video did the rounds on social media, The Council on American-Islamic Relations have also released a statement urging AN enquiry be made into the airline’s conduct with the MMA legend.
Nurmagomedov will now hope to put the incident behind him and keep focus on MMA as he prepares to corner protege Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov.
He will be cageside to help coach Makhachev in his upcoming showdown with Arman Tsarukyan in Los Angeles at UFC 311 in Los Angeles this weekend.
His fellow teammate Nurmagomedov will challenge for the bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili in the night’s chief support in a huge night for the team.
Makhachev insists the former undefeated lightweight’s presence is a huge help and will aid him in keeping his dominant run going.
“Khabib is here to help us to become better than him,” he said.
“To push us, to help us, but we never even talk about this and records and all this stuff, it’s nothing for me. I just want to keep my belt.
“We have best team in the world. That’s why we have lot of top guys. We have lot of high-level fighters.
“We have best team, best coaches, and important thing, they all wish each other the best, you know? We here to help each other.
“We have more than 20 people here, and everybody come to help, not for money, not for nothing, just help to our brother, to our friends to be champion.”