Oct 6, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Khabib Nurmagomedov (red gloves) reacts after his fight against Conor McGregor (blue gloves) during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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Khabib Nurmagomedov Booted From Airline After Allegedly Failing To Comply With Safety Regulations

Khabib Nurmagomedov removed from flight after reportedly failing to adhere to airline safety regulations, sparking controversy!

Khabib Nurmagomedov is known for his wrestling skills and for dominating opponents in the octagon. But recently, the undefeated legend found himself in a different kind of tussle, this time with airline staff. The former UFC lightweight champion, who boasts a perfect 29-0 record, has never backed down from a challenge. But this one was different.

However, his encounter with Frontier Airlines staff at Las Vegas’s Harry Reid International Airport proved to be a battle he couldn’t win with his usual grappling techniques. No one would have thought that the man who mauled Conor McGregor would end up getting removed from a plane over an exit row seat dispute.

They kicked Khabib off a plane pic.twitter.com/7ZphQPfNXk
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) January 12, 2025

The incident started when ‘The Eagle’ was seated in the exit row, a spot that comes with the responsibility of helping others during emergencies. According to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s side of the story, he was perfectly capable of understanding and following instructions. But things got heated when a flight attendant insisted on removing him from his seat. Despite Nurmagomedov’s protests and assurances that he could assist in emergencies, the airline staff wasn’t convinced.

The whole ordeal was caught on video by another passenger, showing the usually composed champion in an unusually frustrated state. After about two minutes of back-and-forth, security was called, and Khabib Nurmagomedov was escorted off the plane. His friend also deboarded alongside him.

The silver lining was that he managed to board another flight about an hour and a half later, presumably heading to support his teammates at the upcoming UFC 311 event in Los Angeles.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Response To Being Kicked Off The Plane

Khabib Nurmagomedov recently found himself in an unexpected fight – this time with airline bureaucracy. The former lightweight champion, who managed to stay composed through 29 professional fights, showed that same levelheadedness when addressing his recent airplane incident.

In true Khabib fashion, he first wanted to set the record straight about which airline was involved, proving that accuracy matters as much outside the octagon as it does inside it. It turns out Frontier Airlines, not Alaska Air, was the one that got into a grappling match with the Eagle.

First of all, I need to clarify that it was @FlyFrontier not AlaskaAir.
Lady who comes to me with questions was very rude from the very beginning, even though I speak very decent English and can understand everything and agreed to assist, she still insists on removing me from my…
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 12, 2025

The champion’s response to the incident was measured but with a sharp edge of criticism. He called out the flight attendant’s rudeness while highlighting his own ability to communicate effectively in English. The whole incident hasn’t derailed Khabib’s plans to support his teammates at UFC 311. This proved that, like in his fighting career, he knows how to handle adversity with grace.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Khabib Nurmagomedov

UFC 311

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!