In a shocking twist far removed from the roar of the octagon, former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov finds himself at the center of a dramatic saga. Imagine the scene: Khabib, the undefeated “Eagle,” now on the run, not from a formidable opponent, but from Russian federal tax authorities. Accused of hiding over 300 million rubles ($3.3 million) in taxes, this tale of high stakes and high drama has gripped the world.

Khabib’s troubles began when he allegedly concealed millions, prompting a fierce crackdown. The Russian government swiftly moved to seize his properties and freeze his bank accounts, pushing the legendary fighter to acquire UAE citizenship in a desperate bid for sanctuary. But the plot thickens. Weeks after his assets were confiscated, Khabib’s gym was raided by regional law enforcement, casting a further shadow over his legacy.

Adding fuel to the fire, an alarming attack in Russia saw five terrorists, linked to Khabib’s martial arts school, wreak havoc at two churches, killing civilians and police officers. One of the terrorists, Gadjimurad Kagirov, had ties to Nurmagomedov’s gym, raising disturbing questions about the former champion.

As if the tension couldn’t escalate further, a viral Instagram post from MMA page HappyPunch showed Nurmagomedov at an event, posing with fans. One fan’s casual remark in Russian sent a chill through Khabib, prompting him to ask suspiciously, “How do you know Russian?”

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s decision to flee Russia and acquire UAE citizenship has attracted criticism, including from his longtime rival Conor McGregor, who has been feuding with Nurmagomedov since their UFC 229 fight in 2018. McGregor has been actively criticizing Nurmagomedov amid his recent controversies, even offering to buy Nurmagomedov’s house to humiliate him.

This pot by HappyPunch also garnered reactions from fans who were shocked by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s response. Some fans even speculated in the comments that the man might be a secret Russian agent.

Fans react to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s encounter with Russian-speaking fan

Even though Khabib started a new life in the UAE with his family, focusing on coaching his team with head coach Javier Mendez, his issues with Russian authorities haven’t completely added away. In the post’s comment, a fan captured Khabib’s reaction when he heard the fan speak Russian, commenting, “Damn, he thought the Russian agents were coming after him to bring him back to Russia and throw him in the Gulag.” Another fan humorously chimed in, “Khabib thought he ran into an op.”

Whereas another fan humorously decoded what the Russian fan said to “Eagle”, asking him to pay his taxes. He commented, “Imagine he told Khabib to pay his taxes.” Another fan chimed that the man was a member of the FSB, the federal security service of the Russian Federation, a direct successor of the KGB, and liable for border security and surveillance. Another fan also made fun of Khabib, commenting, “Bro thought it was the tax man.” However, this controversy is stretched a bit and hasn’t been because of Nurmagomedov’s close relationship with President Putin, a question also raised by Joe Rogan in his previous podcast.

While these comments are undeniably funny for the MMA community, it’s crucial not to underestimate the power of the Russian government, known for its covert operations. The possibility of future involvement in Khabib Nurmagomedov’s life cannot be entirely dismissed. Just as “Eagle” is known for his stubbornness, so are the Russian authorities.

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