UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov slams ‘useless’ Octagon girls

UFC great Khabib Nurmagomedov is no fan of Octagon girls, telling everyone why he thinks they should be banished from the sport.

UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has launched a scathing attack over the role of Octagon girls, branding them “the most unnecessary people in martial arts”.

For decades, women have walked around boxing rings and MMA cages between rounds to inform those in attendance of the upcoming stanza.

Watch UFC 266: Volkanovski vs Ortega live on Main Event, available on Foxtel and Kayo on Sunday 26th September at 12pm AEST. ORDER NOW >

The practice, however, has come under scrutiny in recent years, with some labelling it archaic and outdated.

Former lightweight champion Nurmagomedov is part of that group, saying during a recent press conference: “Look, I don’t want to offend anyone. Ring girls are the most unnecessary people in martial arts.

“What is their function? I have a question: You can show that it’s the second round on the screen.

“I think they’re the most useless people in martial arts. What function? How?

“Do they develop the sport? Or do they help people to see that it is the second round now? What are they doing? Tell me, please.”

They hold signs up telling punters what round is about to begin.

Octagon girls have been a staple of the UFC for years.

When it was put to Nurmagomedov, now promoting the Eagle Fighting Championships, that Octagon girls and ring girls have been embedded in combat sports for decades, he replied: “I realise that this is history. History knows many mistakes. We read history to avoid mistakes of the past in the future.

“If we look at history, it says they are useless. That is my personal opinion.

“(UFC president) Dana White maybe likes it, maybe you do too. But my name is not Dana, my name is Khabib.”

Nurmagomedov’s late father, Abdulmanap, famously stood in front of Octagon girl Luciana Andrade as the UFC icon gave a brief interview after the ceremonial UFC 242 weigh-ins in 2019.

The Dagestani has no issue with Octagon girls themselves but admits they made him uncomfortable when he attended events with his father.

Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t want Octagon girls in the UFC.

Nurmagomedov added: “For example, I sit with my father, every person has his own preferences, cultures and values. I come to fight night and sit with my father and those people are passing by and showing people that it is the second round.

“But no one looks at the sign (with the round number on it). I feel uncomfortable with my father.

“If you want you can do it. But don’t impose it to me. Do it aside. There are designated place for it.

“I think we must not mix all of it. This is my private opinion. We develop sport here, first of all.”

This story first appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission