UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov received a hero’s reception at his hometown in Dagestan after he beat former two-division champion Conor McGregor at UFC 229.
Now, the Makhachkala residents have gone a step further and handed Khabib a cup specially made for him and which goes by the name of ‘1st Russian UFC Champion’ cup, and it’s safe to say that the Eagle will keep it forever.
Also read: 4 reasons why Khabib is the greatest Lightweight of all time
The 30-year-old MMA star was handed the trophy before Russian league match between Anzhi Makhachkala and CSKA Moskva. Khabib can be seen driven across the stadium as he raises his UFC belt to cheers of the audience.
Khabib presents his UFC belt to fans in the stadium
Хабиб проехал с чемпионским поясом вокруг стадиона pic.twitter.com/KplO1jhjNk
— Danila Ignatov (@DanilaIgnatov) October 19, 2018
Khabib also made the ceremonial kick-off before the start of the match between the two teams.
Khabib makes ceremonial kick-off before Anzhi-Moskva game
Первый удар по мячу. Хабиб долго не мог определиться, кому сделать пас pic.twitter.com/LfthxEB8tt
— Danila Ignatov (@DanilaIgnatov) October 19, 2018
The Eagle beat Conor McGregor on October 7 in a dominant victory via a neck-crank. McGregor had no answer to Khabib’s elite grappling as he was ‘smashed’ and then choked out.
Another major talking point regarding the fight was the post-fight melee. Khabib, after beating McGregor, tangled into a heated argument with the Irishman’s team-mate Dillon Danis and jumped over the cage to start a brawl.
Later, he apologised for his actions. Moreover, himself and Conor McGregor were handed temporary 10-day suspensions as the Nevada State Athletic Commission continues probe into the matter.