Khabib Nurmagomedov making a U-turn to hail Ireland for supporting Palestine divides the internet: "Always about politics", "Selfless and respectful"

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s recent comments praising Ireland for its support of Palestine have ignited a debate on X, with some hailing his gesture as selfless and respectful. Meanwhile, others criticized him for mixing politics with sports.

Known for his bitter rivalry with Irish star Conor McGregor and his stance on Dagestan’s MMA supremacy, Nurmagomedov’s shift in tone caught many by surprise. Following his cousin Usman’s win against Paul Hughes at the PFL Champions Series in Dubai, 'The Eagle' seized the moment to express his appreciation for Ireland’s unwavering solidarity with Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He said:

“I know this is not my time to talk, I just want to say one thing. With all the things between me and [Conor McGregor] when we were fighting. Don’t forget, Ireland is the biggest supporter in the world for Palestine. Don’t forget about this. We love you guys! You, your government, everybody. When we’re inside the cage, it’s only competition. MMA, is all about respect. We love you guys because you guys support our brothers in Palestine.”

Check out Khabib Nurmagomedov's comments below:

While Nurmagomedov’s comments were viewed by some fans as a much-needed call for unity, others saw it as politically charged. Several fans took to X and wrote:

"Yeah, it's always about politics with the Dagestani terrorist."

"Khabib gotta be one of the most selfless and respectful high-tier athletes we’ve ever seen. Kudos to that brother."

"I wish @TeamKhabib would use his platform to promote peace with Israel. Ireland’s hateful stance towards Israel does the opposite."

"That’s because the Irish have lost their country."

Check out some of the fan reactions below:

Fans react to Khabib Nurmagomedov's comments about Ireland's support for Palestine. [Screenshots courtesy: @acdmma_ on X ]

In a broader context, Nurmagomedov’s acknowledgement follows his recent comments emphasising the dominance of Dagestani fighters in MMA. His remarks about Irish MMA included his perceived lack of top-tier talent from the nation outside fighters like McGregor and Hughes.