Khabib Nurmagomedov has signed a deal to become a professional football player in Russia.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is still keeping busy even after retiring from fighting. Apart from following in his father’s footsteps and being a stellar coach — he’s still undefeated in the UFC in that new role — the former UFC lightweight champion has now also officially become a professional soccer player.
FC Legion Dynamo, which RT Sport describes as a third-tier football club based in Dagestan, has officially announced that they’ve signed the undefeated UFC superstar.
“A great battle awaits our Legion, for which we need great warriors,” they wrote in Russian.
Khabib has signed his first professional football contract with FC Legion Dynamo. How well will he do as a footballer pic.twitter.com/uhXX2C8ubf
— RT Sport (@RTSportNews) August 13, 2021
Last June, Khabib revealed that he’s been getting offers from various clubs, and has started to get in “football shape” for the transition. The UFC star has always been a fan of the sport, which he considers his “first love” and a “childhood dream” to play professionally.
Khabib also had a hilarious moment earlier in the year, where he schooled fellow UFC fighter Manel Kape with his football knowledge.
Khabib ‘?T?h?e? ?E?a?g?l?e?’? ‘The Football Encyclopedia’ Nurmagomedov ??
Just four minutes of @TeamKhabib spitting facts…get him on your next Zoom quiz @GaryLineker, @rioferdy5, make space in the studio, we have a new pundit in town pic.twitter.com/xlTTNzyd5g
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) March 4, 2021
Khabib, who retired in 2020 after going 29-0 in MMA, will be transitioning to a new sport as he turns 33 next month. We’ve yet to see how big of a role he will play in the team, but it’s certainly a good PR move that will draw more eyeballs to the Dagestani-based football club.
Here’s a preview of his soccer skills: