"Conor was right..." – Fans criticize Khabib Nurmagomedov for posing with money laundering and hate speech accused Indian preacher

Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has received flak for posing with controversial radical Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. Both Nurmagomedov and Naik were in attendance at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

The IRF (Islamic Research Foundation) president put out a tweet with a picture of himself and the former UFC fighter from Dagestan with the banner "Interaction with Muslim Personalities."

The tweet read:

"Dr. Zakir Naik in conversation with Khabib Nurmagomedov, the greatest mixed martial artist of all time and the longest reigning Ultimate Fight Championship lightweight world champion."

'The Eagle' posted the same picture without the aforementioned caption on his Instagram account. Many fans of the fighter criticized him for the post, with one fan calling it "shameful," while many others said that they would unfollow Nurmagomedov.

It was alleged that Naik received an invite to the FIFA World Cup Final from Qatari officials. However, it was later clarified that no such invitation had been extended to the radical preacher.

Zakir Naik is an Islamist televangelist. He founded the Emirati-based 'Peace TV' through which he spouts a supremacist version of Islam to millions of followers all over the world. Naik's channel was banned from being broadcast in his home country of India, as well as Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, and the UK.

Furthermore, Zakir Naik is wanted by the NIA (National Investigation Agency) and the counter-terrorism unit in India on charges of money laundering and promoting religious intolerance.

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Khabib Nurmagomedov and his late father's images superimposed on the twin towers in Lusail, Qatar

It is no secret that Khabib Nurmagomedov is a football fan, particularly of the Spanish football club Real Madrid. A few months ago, the former UFC lightweight champion also advertised the FIFA World Cup 2022 in a commercial for Etihad Airways. 'The Eagle' was in attendance for the last leg of the football World Cup.

As a tribute to the Dagestani fighter and his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the duo's photos were projected onto the Al Jaber Twin Towers in Lusail.

Nurmagomedov retired as UFC lightweight champion in 2020 after defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. He retired with an undefeated record of 29-0 after making a promise to his mother that he would retire from fighting after the bout. Many believe his decision came as a result of his father tragically passing away in the same year due to Covid-19.

'The Eagle' has confirmed on numerous occasions that he will not return to fighting. He has taken up the mantle of coach at the American Kickboxing Academy alongside coach Javier Mendes.

Khabib Nurmagomedov was in the corner of his teammate and close friend Islam Makhachev when he won the lightweight championship from Charles Oliveira at UFC 280.

In the same event, the fighter-turned-MMA coach was in the corner of welterweight fighter Belal Muhammad, where he helped his protege secure a TKO victory over Sean Brady.