Khabib Nurmagomedov got a massive payday from Vladimir Putin after his UFC 229 fight against Conor McGregor, Dana White reveals – On the Games With Names Podcast.
After his epic win at UFC 229, Khabib had a phone call with Putin. Putin gave Khabib and his dad with property worth $20 million in Russia. He also got cars, money, and gyms in the Muslim territories. This softened the blow of the $500,000 fine Khabib faced for the post-fight brawl with McGregor’s teammate, Dillon Danis.
Khabib, a well-known figure in Russia, once received a Mercedes from Putin’s ally, Ramzan Kadyrov. His training camps often had backing from oligarch Ziyavudin Magomedov.
After retiring in 2020, post his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, Khabib stuck to his word. His decision to retire was a promise to his mother after his dad passed away. Dana White believes Khabib’s financial comfort is a key reason he’s not returning to the octagon.
Dana compares Khabib to Conor McGregor, who’s living it up on a yacht in some sunny paradise. Once you hit their level of fame and wealth, getting punched in the face for a living loses its appeal.