Khabib Nurmagomedov’s MMA gym in Dagestan has come under scrutiny after devastating attacks in the region left several civilians and police officers dead. On Sunday, reports emerged of assailants targeting multiple places of worship and a police outpost in Derbent and Makhachkala. The shocking incident, just months after the attack on a concert hall in Moscow, has cast a shadow of fear and concern in the region.

According to reports from Russian state news agency, TASS, the gunmen responsible for the violence included relatives of a regional official and even a former mixed martial arts fighter. This has now led to an investigation being launched into MMA gyms in the region which also includes the former UFC lightweight champion’s gym, ‘Eagles MMA.’

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s gym drawn into investigation after links to Dagestan attacker surface 

According to an update shared on X by James Porrazzo, “Breaking News: The FSB has announced through Dagestani media that ALL Dagestani MMA gyms are being investigated and INSPECTED for religious extremist elements – especially Eagles MMA, the gym of Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, where at least one terrorist trained. Expect his to not be a “timid” campaign.”

Earlier reports by TASS had revealed that Gadzhimurad Kagirov, a former MMA fighter and cousin of district head Magomed Omarov was identified as one of the men involved in the violent attack. Kagirov has also been reported to have trained in the past at Khabib Nurmagomedov’s gym.

Omarov’s son and a nephew were also reported to be among the attackers and as such, the head of Dagestan, Sergei Melikov stated to the media on Monday, “Why did he, as the head of a municipality, as a member of the United Russia party, as a high-level leader, who has been serving for several years as the head of a municipality, whose duties are to take care of the entire population of the region, did not pay attention, missed the children [the children’s actions and possible red flags], and missed them so much that they became m**derers.”

As for Kagirov, the 28-year-old was a successful freestyle wrestler who transitioned to professional MMA and had accumulated a 2-0 record. His past links to Nurmagomedov’s gym have raised a lot of eyebrows about the former UFC lightweight champion’s association with Kagirov but in a recent statement, ‘The Eagle’ has come out to clear the air on the issue.

Nurmagomedov condemns attacks as he clarifies  Gadzhimurad Kagirov associations 

According to a post shared by ‘Red Corner MMA’, Khabib Nurmagomedov released a statement on the violence in Dagestan by expressing his profound disbelief over what transpired in his hometown and denied any association with an attacker being linked to his gym.

Nurmagomedov stated, “Going into a church and killing someone just because they practice a different religion. Do I really need to condemn this? Isn’t it clear that this is a brutal and inhumane act?… (The ter***ist) is not our student, that is absolute nonsense, it’s not true. Yes, he had a camp at the gym at some point, maybe for a couple of months. But he was never part of the team.”

‘The Eagle’ also highlighted the proximity of his family members to the attack sites as he shared the personal impact of the tragedy on him and Dagestan as he emphasized the region’s history of religious co-existence spanning decades.

As authorities continue their investigation into the roots of the attacks, the community will be grappling with the aftermath of this tragic incident. In such trying times, the MMA fandom and beyond hope for a future that fosters unity in the region, and that Dagestan’s rich cultural diversity and spirit of co-existence remain untarnished by such horrific incidents.