UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s new MMA promotion EAGLE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP had the inaugural event yesterday. Nurmagomedov recently bought the promotion in a million-dollar deal.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
The event had UFC bantamweight champion and Russian star Petr Yan present, as well. Yan, a Siberian native, posed alongside Nurmagomedov and posted a photo to his Instagram account.
Yan also posted a message in Russian which translates to, “Yesterday at the first tournament @eaglefcmma in Moscow @khabib_nurmagomedov the successful promotion of the organization. I hope that there will be guys from Siberia – the Urals who will glorify our regions in the organization.”
Yan hopes to see more talents from the Urals, Siberia region in the promotion. This is no doubt a great opportunity for upcoming Russian talents to take part in this regional promotion. Nurmagomedov has made it a goal to make MMA global and more popular in Russia.
The first event also saw the coronation of 2 new champions. New lightweight champion Mehdi Dakaev, and new featherweight champion Rasul Magomedov were the star performers of the event.
Petr Yan and Khabib Nurmagomedov are both global superstars
No doubt this will be a great opportunity for the regional fighters there. And with UFC champions like Petr Yan and Nurmagomedov acting as promoters of the event, the fighters of the promotion are bound to get the global exposure they need.
As for both the champions’ fighting career, Yan was scheduled to fight Aljamain Sterling in his first title defense at UFC 256. That fight got scrapped due to the visa issues that Yan was facing. The fight is yet to be rescheduled.
Nurmagomedov on the other hand announced retirement from competition after his successful title defense at UFC 254 against Justin Gaethje. But he hasn’t vacated his title, neither has he been stripped yet.
He was visibly shaken by his father’s demise earlier this year. Whether the undefeated champion returns and completes the coveted 30-0 milestone set by his late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, remains to be seen.
What do you think of Nurmagomedov’s fighting career? How successful will his new promotion be? Let us know your thoughts below.