Khabib Nurmagomedov’s longtime coach shares ‘stupid’ detail from viral airplane incident

Khabib Nurmagomedov, a UFC Hall of Famer, was removed from a Frontier Airlines flight earlier this year, an incident that gained notable attention on social media.

The removal occurred when Nurmagomedov was seated in the exit row, which prompted reactions from UFC figures including CEO Dana White and former competitor Dustin Poirier, who criticized the airline’s actions.

Since retiring from mixed martial arts in 2020, Nurmagomedov has taken on a coaching role in the sport. Although he has not spoke extensively about the flight incident, his coach, Javier Mendez, has recently shared details concerning the event.

According to Mendez, after being asked to change seats or leave the plane, Nurmagomedov inquired about the reasons for his removal. He reported that security ignored Nurmagomedov’s explanation but later requested a photo with him. This incident reportedly irritated Nurmagomedov, as Mendez highlighted the inconsistency in the treatment he received.

Nurmagomedov was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022, alongside his teammate Daniel Cormier. He is expected to appear at Madison Square Garden for Islam Makhachev’s upcoming fight against Jack Della Maddalena.

As of now, there is no confirmation that Frontier Airlines has made efforts to address the situation with Nurmagomedov since the incident.