KHABIB WANTS TO SEE MMA GOLD...SILVER...AND BRONZE?

Khabib Nurmagomedov has stepped away from the UFC for the time being but he is staying very much active in the MMA community.

It was first reported that Khabib and UFC President Dana White will be having a meeting soon. Many have speculated this could mean the return of “The Eagle”. 

Encompassed in all the speculations, Khabib purchased the Russian MMA promotion Gorilla Fighting Championship for an estimated $1 million. The name will be changed to Eagle Fighting Championship and will expand its shows outside of Russia and head to the Middle East and eventually the United States.

The aforementioned meeting with Dana White and this purchase of the soon to be EFC seems to be the groundwork and the foundation for something bigger. It appears Khabib has found his next major project and it’s a going to be a tough task but one this writer fully supports.

Khabib envisions bringing MMA to the Summer Olympics. His goal is by 2024 in Paris, France or 2028 in Los Angeles, California. He has laid out a plan to meet with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach to discuss MMA being included to the Summer Games.

The 32 year old UFC Lightweight Icon said:

“The inclusion of MMA in the Olympics is one of my main tasks for the next couple of years, we are already working in this direction. In the near future I will have many meetings, including with the President of the Olympic Committee. I think, if not in Paris, then in In Los Angeles, we have a great chance of promoting MMA.

The only question is the brutality of the sport. This is not encouraged at the Olympics, they do not want there to be a lot of blood. But in terms of recognition, sponsorship, in terms of interest for television, MMA, I think that if it enters the Olympics program, it will be on a par with football and athletics in interest.”

Khabib announced his retirement in October but could the inclusion of MMA in the Olympics motivate “The Eagle” to chase the gold one more time, this time not only for him and not only his family but for his the entire nation of Russia?

-JayB

The Prodigal One JayB (@TheP1JB) is a co-host of the MMA Podcast, Cage Theory (@CageTheoryPod)