Khabib Hits Back At Arman's Putin Remarks

Khabib Nurmagomedov has publicly denied claims made by Arman Tsarukyan that one of his gyms in Russia was built and funded by President Vladimir Putin, setting the record straight.

Tsarukyan made the allegation during an appearance on the PBD Podcast: “Even Khabib, he got paid for his gym. Putin built for him a gym. For example, if you’re gold medallist and you want to build your own gym, they give you money to build your own gym. Nurmagomedov responded swiftly and directly, dismissing the claim in full. “This is absolutely not true. No one ever paid for my bills or built gyms for me.”

Khabib’s Legacy

Nurmagomedov retired in October 2020 at UFC 254 following a second-round submission of Justin Gaethje, citing a promise made to his late father. Six years on, he remains one of the most powerful figures in the sport without competing in it. He has guided Islam Makhachev to the lightweight title and his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov to the featherweight belt, cementing his status as a coach and mentor of the highest calibre.

Tsarukyan’s relationship with the camp has its own complications. He was lined up to fight Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title at UFC 311 in January 2025 — a rematch of their 2019 bout — before withdrawing last minute due to injury. Whether the gym dispute further damages the relationship between Tsarukyan and the wider Dagestan camp remains to be seen.

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