UFC Champ Khabib Nurmagomedov Isn't A Fan Of MMA Ring Girls

Retired UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov made news this week when, during a Russian press conference, he gave some opinions on the job of ring girls inside the world of mixed martial arts. There's some debate on the translation of what Khabib said, but the premise is that he's not a fan of ring girls. One translation has Khabib saying ring girls are "useless" in MMA, while other Russian translators have it as "unnecessary."

"Look, I don't wanna offend anyone, ring girls are the most (useless or unnecessary, pick your translation) people in martial arts," Khabib said. "What is their function? You can show that it is the second round on the screen."

"Dana White maybe likes it," the fighter added. "But my name is not Dana, my name is Khabib."

Khabib went on to say that people have their culture and values, but noted that if he goes to a fight night with his father, he's uncomfortable sitting there as the ring girls pass by. "I am not against it. If you want you can do it, but don't impose it to me, do it aside. There are designated places for it," Khabib said.

"There should be some show elements for sure. People want to come and watch, it is interesting for them."

Look, let's cut to the chase here, there's no debating that ring girls are unnecessary to the actual sport of MMA. Khabib is right. There's no debate there. But this is a show that Dana White is putting on. This is a rock concert. This is an action-thriller movie from the 1980s. This is Grade A entertainment and sex appeal mixes with blood and gladiators going to war. It's like orange juice and vodka colliding.