4 minutes ago

Khabib Nurmagomedov Says UFC Wanted a Nickname Because His Name Was “Hard to Pronounce”

The undefeated ex-lightweight champion said UFC asked him to pick a nickname when he signed in 2012, leaving him confused, “What? I have my name; why do I need a nickname?” he recalled. He said the UFC explained his name was tough to pronounce, so Khabib adopted “The Eagle,” but added that “after six years, everybody [knew] my [real] name.”