UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has addressed a viral incident that occurred aboard a Frontier Airlines flight, where he was asked to change seats by a flight attendant. The altercation, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, showed the retired mixed martial artist protesting the request, which he believed to be unjust. The attendant’s rationale appeared to center on Nurmagomedov’s perceived inability to communicate in English during an emergency.
The footage revealed Nurmagomedov repeatedly stating that the situation was “not fair” before ultimately complying and leaving the plane. Initially, reports mistakenly identified Alaska Airlines as the carrier involved, but Nurmagomedov clarified in his statement that the incident took place on a Frontier Airlines flight.

In his statement, Khabib described the flight attendant’s behavior as “very rude” and questioned whether the encounter stemmed from “racial” or “national” bias. Despite his frustrations, the 36-year-old maintained that he handled the situation civilly and emphasized the importance of treating passengers with respect. “Those crew members could do better next time and just be nice with clients,” he said, reflecting his typically composed demeanor.
After the incident, Nurmagomedov boarded a flight with a different airline 90 minutes later. His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, also weighed in, praising Nurmagomedov’s grace under pressure. “Khabib always comes out on top because of his mannerism and his class. This is who he is as a human being,” Abdelaziz told MMA Fighting.
The incident sparked a broader conversation about potential discrimination in airline policies, prompting the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to issue a statement in support of Nurmagomedov. CAIR called for a thorough investigation into Frontier Airlines’ conduct, although they too initially misidentified the airline involved.
Despite the controversy, Khabib remains focused on his coaching responsibilities, as he is set to corner teammates Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov in their title fights at UFC 311 this Saturday in Los Angeles. Makhachev will defend his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event, while Umar challenges Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title in the co-main event.
The incident has sparked a dialogue about respect and fairness in public interactions, but Khabib’s calm and collected response highlights the poise that has defined his career, both inside and outside the octagon.
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