In the midst of the ‘Topuria-Makhachev’ hurricane, there’s an interesting connection between Team Matador and the Clan Nurmagomedov – and that’s Real Madrid. Umar Nurmagomedov, with a record of 18-1, was spotted at the Santiago Bernabéu last Wednesday during the Champions League match between Real Madrid and Manchester City. What’s more, he even managed to sneak into the Real Madrid locker room, courtesy of none other than Toni Rudiger.
Following the match, Umar took to social media to express his admiration, saying, “Incredible match, Real Madrid, congratulations. Toni Rudiger: Thank you, brother. You are the best. A special thanks to Mr. Khabib Nurmagomedov.” It’s not hard to connect the dots here – the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov is a well-known fan of Real Madrid and a friend of Toni Rudiger. The two have a long-standing relationship of respect and friendship, which was rekindled recently at the Bernabéu.
Khabib, often referred to as ‘The Eagle,’ has been instrumental in introducing his cousins, Umar and Usman, to the world of Real Madrid. In fact, he’s the one who got Rudiger to invite Umar to the crucial match against Manchester City. Umar shared photos of himself posing with Rudiger on the Bernabéu lawn, as well as with other notable players like Ancelotti, Mbappé, and Modric inside the Madrid locker room.
This connection between Umar and the Real Madrid team is particularly interesting, given the current dynamics between Topuria and the surroundings of Khabib-Makhachev. As it stands, the only link between the two is their shared respect as fighters, as well as their geographical proximity – Georgia is close to Dagestan. However, things took a turn when Merab Dvalishvili, Ilia’s friend and compatriot, broke Umar Nurmagomedov’s undefeated streak at UFC 311 in Los Angeles.
If things continue as expected, Ilia may eventually face off against Makhachev, which would mean that the Nurmagomedov and Topuria clans will find themselves on opposite sides of the ring once again. For now, though, it’s fascinating to see the connections between these two worlds – the world of mixed martial arts and the world of football – and how they intersect in unexpected ways.