Khabib Nurmagomedov, arguably the UFC’s most popular champion, was pictured alongside Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechen Republic who was recently accused of reigniting his crackdown on the republic’s LGBTQ+ community.
Nurmagomedov, who last defended his lightweight title against Conor McGregor at UFC 229 last October, posted the photo on his official Instagram account along with the caption: “Thank you for the hospitality of Ramzan Akhmatovich. May the Almighty protect you and the entire Chechen people.”
The UFC champion’s photo op with the controversial Kadyrov comes shortly following reports that the dictator’s government has detained several men and women suspected of being gay.