Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Khabib Nurmagomedov said he didn’t attend the UFC 242 media day because he keeps being asked the same questions.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has explained his absence from the UFC 242 media day ahead of his fight with Dustin Poirier this Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
Nurmagomedov did not field any media questions on Thursday, which prompted questions as to why the lightweight champion was not completing his fight week obligations. However the following day at the UFC 242 weigh-ins, Nurmagomedov cited the ‘same questions’ as the reason for not attending the media day.
“He asked me yesterday, I don’t come to media [day]. I said I come but I don’t talk with media. I come, stare down, and I leave. But why I don’t talk with media? Because three months, same questions,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Fighting. “Father? What do you think about Dustin? What do you think? You respect him? No? How was your training camp?
“90 percent the same thing. Right now, same thing.”
Continuing his rant, the undefeated Nurmagomedov said he wanted to leave and not speak to the media following the weigh-ins, and that he had been asked about his father and head coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, at least “15 or 20” times this week.
“Right now, I want to leave but they say no, you have to go,” Nurmagomedov revealed. “You guys have 90 percent same questions. How many times I give answer about my father? Maybe for this week 15 or 20. One question.”
UFC 242 takes place this Saturday night, September 7th, at the The Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Nurmagomedov vs. Poirier will headline the card.