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via Imago
Credits: IG
MMA is a sport that has oftentimes attracted athletes from various backgrounds. Be it soccer, basketball, or even football, athletes have come up and cheered on their favorite fighters. Nevertheless, soccer players and UFC fighters have a closer connection, especially when it comes to Dagestani fighters and soccer players. Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and their entire team are soccer fans. And now, Sharaputdin Magomedov has also joined the group, but his familiarity with Cristiano Ronaldo has boosted his public image by a thousandfold. During one such interaction prior to ‘Bullet’s fight at UFC Saudi Arabia, CR7 dropped major news.
Before ‘Shara Bullet’ had the chance to fight Michael ‘Venom’ Page at UFC Saudi Arabia, he interacted with the former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. ‘The Count’ has been wanting to meet Magomedov for a long time now. After all, the duo have a bit too much in common, don’t you think? But it was Ronaldo who took away the spotlight when Bisping asked the Dagestani middleweight about his recent meeting with the FIFA star.
Magomedov replied, “Yeah, met the whole team with Ronaldo, specifically. I spoke about half an hour a whole bunch about UFC. He’s a huge fan. He said he’s gonna be at the fight and he said that I have potential to be the champ.” As soon as the undefeated fighter revealed that Ronaldo would attend and cheer for him at UFC Saudi Arabia, ‘The Count’ let out an excited noise.
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However, he didn’t seem like a true fan of soccer. He said, “I know nothing about football. The only sport I like is fighting.” But the fighting community was ready to roar to see Ronaldo’s promise getting fulfilled with Magomedov winning the title in the near future.
Poll of the day
Poll 1 of 5
Do you think Cristiano Ronaldo's presence at UFC Saudi Arabia will inspire Sharaputdin Magomedov to victory?
Absolutely, Ronaldo's support is a game-changer
No, it's all about the fighter's skill
It might help, but not decisive
Ronaldo's presence won't matter
With Dan Hooker out, who should step up to face Justin Gaethje at UFC 313?
Renato Moicano
Rafael Fiziev
Someone else entirely
Cancel the fight
Want to dive deeper?
Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.
Do you think Dan Hooker's withdrawal was inevitable given his injury history?
Yes, he's too injury-prone
No, it was just bad luck
Maybe, but he should have fought through it
I don't care, I just want to see Gaethje fight
Do you think Ilia Topuria made the right decision by vacating his title to pursue a career in the lightweight division?
Yes, it's a bold move for greater challenges
No, he should have defended his title first
Maybe, but only if he quickly secures a title shot
I don't care as long as he delivers exciting fights
Which potential matchup excites you the most for Ilia Topuria in the lightweight division?
Dustin Poirier - A clash of legacies
Charles Oliveira - A battle of styles
Arman Tsarukyan - A fight for future dominance
None, he should wait for a direct title shot
Want to dive deeper?
Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.
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Nevertheless, ‘Shara Bullet’ was pretty content with the meeting with Ronaldo. But what does he think of the debated GOAT of soccer? Of course, he thinks of him as his idol. After all, Magomedov began his sporting career with soccer. But let’s see what the Dagestani had to say about Ronaldo.
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Sharaputdin Magomedov is in awe of Cristiano Ronaldo
Magomedov and ‘CR7’ met when Ronaldo paid a visit to the CT Training Center of Al Nassr. Well, that’s the Saudi Arabian club that has Ronaldo on their roster for now. The two exchanged their T-shirts and sent the entire world into a frenzy. Talking about the Real Madrid star, Magomedov said, “I think Cristiano is a great role model in terms of what he’s been promoting. Helping those who are in need, He’s been also vocal about those things that are not healthy. He really helps a lot of people who found themselves in trouble. He donates a lot of money to charity. That’s what really defines his true nature. He’s the pound-for-pound best in all respects.”
Being a fan of mixed martial arts, Ronaldo has been often spotted interacting with MMA legends. Needless to say, Khabib Nurmagomedov is one of the few fighters who has developed a good relationship with the soccer GOAT. Even former 2-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya had met with Ronaldo and had a brief conversation with him.
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Now, all that the fight fans have been waiting for is to watch Ronaldo cheer for ‘The Last Stylebender’ and ‘Shara Bullet’ at UFC Saudi Arabia. No doubt, the soccer star would enjoy his time at the arena on the 1st of February. But would his support get his favorite fighters to victory? We’ll have to wait for Saturday night for that!
What are your thoughts on the interaction between Magomedov and Ronaldo? Are you excited to see ‘CR7’ at the upcoming event? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
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Debate
Can Ronaldo's support propel Magomedov to UFC glory, or is it just a publicity stunt?
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What’s your perspective on:
Can Ronaldo's support propel Magomedov to UFC glory, or is it just a publicity stunt?
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