Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals the origin of his nickname 'The Eagle'. Photo: Reproduction/X
Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed the story. Khabib gave a recent interview to the 'World Sports Summit' (WSS) and, among other topics, commented on how the nickname 'The Eagle' came about.
In an interview with WSS, Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed that he didn't want a nickname, but the UFC said his name was difficult to pronounce.
“When the UFC signed me in 2012, they told me, ‘My friend, your name is very difficult to pronounce. You need a nickname.’ I was like, ‘What? I already have my name, why do I need a nickname?’ I asked my manager, ‘What does nickname mean?’ He said, ‘Your name is very difficult to pronounce.’ I chose ‘Eagle’ because it’s a symbol of Dagestan, but after six years, everyone already knows my name,” Khabib Nurmagomedov said in an interview with WSS.
Khabib reveals he didn't want a nickname, but UFC said his name was hard to pronounce 😲😬
"When the UFC signed me in 2012, they told me, 'My friend, your name is very hard to pronounce. You need a nickname.' I was like, 'What? I have my name, why do I need a nickname?' I asked… pic.twitter.com/FHmj3I2cYe
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) December 30, 2025
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Khabib Nurmagomedov's UFC numbers
Khabib is an MMA legend and a member of the UFC Hall of Fame. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/Khabib_Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a former Russian professional mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg) of the UFC. Khabib was the longest-reigning champion in the company's history, holding the title from April 2018 to March 2021.
With 29 wins and no losses, 'The Eagle' retired with an undefeated record. Nurmagomedov is widely considered one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time, and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on June 30, 2022.
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