Trump Names Khabib His Favorite UFC Fighter in 2024
In an August 5, 2024 interview with Adin Ross, Trump named Khabib Nurmagomedov his favorite fighter. The then-Republican presidential nominee praised the retired lightweight champion’s unbeaten career and recalled meeting him. His answer generated a public response from Conor McGregor, whose own history with Nurmagomedov made the choice especially newsworthy in MMA.
What Trump said in the interview
Ross asked Trump about mixed martial arts during a wide-ranging livestream conversation. Trump selected Nurmagomedov and spoke admiringly about his competitive record. He also discussed their personal meeting, offering a reason beyond simply recognizing the name of a successful champion.
Trump said they had met at a fight; that meeting was at UFC 302 in June 2024, where Nurmagomedov served as Islam Makhachev’s cornerman. The August comments concerned Trump’s impression of the former fighter; they did not announce an athletic comeback, a new matchup, or a political endorsement from Nurmagomedov.
The sporting preference attracted attention because Trump had appeared publicly with other UFC personalities. A favorite-fighter answer, however, is an expression of personal admiration. It does not establish that the interviewee supports every position held by that athlete, or that the athlete reciprocates the interviewee’s political views.
The career behind the selection
Nurmagomedov retired with a professional MMA record of 29–0. He won the UFC lightweight title by defeating Al Iaquinta at UFC 223 in April 2018, then defended it against McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje, as summarized in the UFC title lineage.
His performances were built around relentless wrestling, positional control, and the ability to force elite opponents into difficult defensive work. UFC records show he submitted McGregor in round four, Poirier with a rear-naked choke in round three, and Gaethje with a triangle choke in round two.
After beating Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020, Nurmagomedov announced his retirement. The UFC formally confirmed his retirement in March 2021. By the August 2024 interview, Trump’s selection therefore referred to a completed championship career, rather than an active contender preparing for another bout.
McGregor’s response revives the rivalry
McGregor criticized Trump for naming his former opponent and argued that an American fighter should have been selected. He also used political language to characterize the decision’s importance. Those comments were part of McGregor’s reaction, rather than evidence that the answer changed the presidential race.
The response made sense within the longstanding tension between the two former lightweight champions. Their UFC 229 meeting in October 2018 had settled the title contest decisively while leaving a highly visible rivalry that continued through later public exchanges.
For MMA readers, the August interview added a public figure’s preference to that existing history. Trump’s praise focused attention on Nurmagomedov’s record and their meeting; McGregor’s response supplied the controversy. The episode’s confirmed substance was the interview answer and subsequent reaction.
Sources
- Factbase: August 5 interview transcript
- MMA Weekly: Trump’s favorite-fighter answer and meeting
- UFC: Nurmagomedov’s championship fight history
- UFC: formal retirement confirmation
- MMA Fighting: McGregor’s reaction
Sources: mmafighting.com; ufc.com
Tags
MMA, Combat Sports
