Khabib Nurmagomedov was concerned in an exit row dispute on an Alaska Airways flight that resulted in him being faraway from the aircraft.
On Sunday, a clip of Nurmagomedov having a disagreement with a flight attendant went viral. The footage exhibits Nurmagomedov being requested to alter seats, the fighter refusing, and the attendant telling him {that a} supervisor will be referred to as to escort him off the aircraft. Nurmagomedov then seems to go away of his personal volition.
Watch the clip under, which was shared by @omarsuleiman after being uploaded to TikTok by consumer @viceplayer28.
Khabib faraway from a aircraft? It appears even one of the vital well-known Muslims on the planet couldn’t escape racial profiling in America. It doesn’t matter what “standing” you could have.@AlaskaAir that is full rubbish. pic.twitter.com/o6XB3KMi77
— Dr. Omar Suleiman (@omarsuleiman) January 12, 2025
The disagreement gave the impression to be over Nurmagomedov’s English-speaking expertise with reference to his capability to help different passengers in an emergency, as he was seated subsequent to one of many emergency exits.
“I do know the language,” Nurmagomedov informed the attendant. “I understand how to assist individuals.”
“It’s not concerning the language,” the attendant replied.
Nurmagomedov then questioned the supply of the criticism and the dialogue continued as follows:
Attendant: OK, so what we’re going to do is we’re both going to have you ever swap your seat as a result of my flight attendants are usually not permitting you to sit down within the exit row otherwise you’re going to should get off this aircraft … as a result of they’re not comfy with you sitting within the exit row.
Nurmagomedov: Who isn’t comfy?
Attendant: My flight attendants.
Nurmagomedov: It’s not truthful.
Attendant: It’s truthful.
Nurmagomedov: It’s not truthful. You guys, once I checked in, they requested me, do I do know English? Sure, I mentioned.
Attendant: They mentioned sure, I perceive that, however it’s additionally off of their judgment. I’m not going to do that forwards and backwards. I’ll name a supervisor. You possibly can both take a special seat or we will go forward and escort you off the aircraft.
Nurmagomedov: It’s not truthful.
Attendant: Which one are we doing?
Nurmagomedov made it clear he needed to stay in his seat, however ultimately departed.
MMA Preventing has reached out to Alaska Airways for remark.
Nurmagomedov, a former UFC light-weight champion that retired with a spotless 29-0 document in 2020, is presumably touring in preparation for UFC 311. Two of Nurmagomedov’s teammates, Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, compete in title fights this Saturday in Los Angeles. Makhachev defends his light-weight championship in opposition to Arman Tsarukyan in the principle occasion, and Umar Nurmagomedov challenges Merab Dvalishvili for bantamweight gold within the co-main occasion.
Replace: MMA Preventing obtained an announcement from CAIR – Council on American-Islamic Relations concerning the incident.
“We name on Alaska Airways and the U.S. Division of Transportation to swiftly and transparently examine this incident to find out precisely what occurred on this flight and why athlete and Muslim advocate Khabib Nurmagomedov was handled this manner and whether or not spiritual or racial profiling performed a job in his remedy,” CAIR Nationwide Govt Director Nihad Awad mentioned.
“Given how typically incidents of racial and non secular profiling happen on airways, particularly in opposition to vacationers who’re noticeably Muslim, Alaska Airways must also publicly launch the outcomes of its investigation and take acceptable motion to handle any misconduct or errors by its employees.”