Media Is Khabib's undefeated record a big part of why he's so incredibly popular (34.7 million) ?

[matrixremaster]

Partially. He was also a very intriguing character, and while he was a grinder, he was exciting to watch since he made everyone look helpless. He had a great mystique to him.

I would argue that he has even more mystique now that he has retired from fighting and coaching and won at both.

I remember the first thing I ever saw about him was this bear wrestling video from when he was a kid.

Another moment that really popularized him was the whole cage jump.

This is one of the most iconic moments in MMA history and it happened in the biggest fight ever. The whole thing is still surreal looking back on it.

 

[tonystpierre]

I'd say so, At least in my close friend group of about 15. Everyone in my friend group watches sports but i'd say about half of us watch MMA whilst the others don't and almost everyone in my friend group who doesn't watch MMA thinks Khabib is the GOAT because he's undefeated yet they don't even know anyone he's faced other than Conor SMH. And this reply isn't hate towards khabib because he probably is the LW goat however me and most MMA fans who watch regularly don't think is the #1 GOAT but most people I know who don't watch MMA seem to think he is because he's undefeated.

 

[GreatSaintGuillotine]

what absolute rubbish.

khabib was swinging from kadyrovs testicles for his whole ufc career.

He literally wasn't tho. Kadyrov was openly padded with Khabib in his later career because khabib did not want to be associated with him. Khabib is one of few fighters from Russia to openly distance himself from him. Kadyrov was very angry with him and bad mouthing him for a good while because of this

 

[NoSmilez]

It depends who you talk to. I have Muslim friends that don't watch MMA. They know Khabib and Amir Khan. I played some games with Russians online and they don't seem to be fond of Khabib but they know who he is. Russians aren't a monolith though. There is probably some ethnic or regional thing I am not privy to.

 

[Rektkid]

Connor - humbling him brought a great deal of respect not only in muslim folk eyes but people who were against bullies. For too long, Connor was getting away with being a bigot, racist and an outright bully. A lot of people saw it as Connor being brought to justice.

Loyalty - The loyalty khabib would show towards his Father, family, children and friends was inspiring to many. Most of us live in fast paced environments where we hardly keep in touch with parents let alone see them. Khabib was a guy who had that close knit ties to his circle that we all yearn.

Undefeated - Combining the two above to a guy undefeated and managed to get out of the sport with hardly a cut or a bruise and keeping his sanity propped Khabib to a mystical figure.

The list goes on...

 

[ThePimblettEra]

OP has to be a paid shill.

NOBODY could be this obsessed over a retired fighter with 3 title defences.

 

[matrixremaster]

I'd say so, At least in my close friend group of about 15. Everyone in my friend group watches sports but i'd say about half of us watch MMA whilst the others don't and almost everyone in my friend group who doesn't watch MMA thinks Khabib is the GOAT because he's undefeated yet they don't even know anyone he's faced other than Conor SMH. And this reply isn't hate towards khabib because he probably is the LW goat however me and most MMA fans who watch regularly don't think is the #1 GOAT but most people I know who don't watch MMA seem to think he is because he's undefeated.

Interesting to hear this. I've had similar experiences with casuals who think Khabib is the GOAT because Conor and Khabib are two of the only fighters they know but only in my case I pretty much agree with them lol

 

[tonystpierre]

Interesting to hear this. I've had similar experiences with casuals who think Khabib is the GOAT because Conor and Khabib are two of the only fighters they know but only in my case I pretty much agree with them lol

Speaking about Connor a lot of people I know IRL who don't watch MMA think he's the GOAT too. I've heard that a lot actually talking to non MMA watchers but Khabib and Conor are the main ones I think i've really heard from Casuals. (I assume they do bc of his popularity)

 

[Prime Goku]

1 B muslims in the world
Combat, combat sports, and wrestling are key aspects of religion.
Khabib is the best muslim in MMA of all time.
Khabib also represents the potential of muslims all aroudn the world struggling to create a meaningful life with all the sheningans western governments play in disrupting them worldwide.
Khabib is a hero.

Lol fucken clown. Muslims kill more muslims than anyone else. I am from those countries so I would know. Keep hating the west but continue to consume everything they produce, clown.

 

[Bearknuckle]

1 B muslims in the world
Combat, combat sports, and wrestling are key aspects of religion.
Khabib is the best muslim in MMA of all time.
Khabib also represents the potential of muslims all aroudn the world struggling to create a meaningful life with all the sheningans western governments play in disrupting them worldwide.
Khabib is a hero.

 

[Deleted member 587672]

95% of his followers are muslims so nothing surprising

Did you do a poll?

 

[D 1 Wrestler]

We saw this with Floyd, is the undefeated phenomena at work here?

- He's the most followed Russian on the planet (34.7 million)
- Second most followed fighter in UFC history
- Was voted best athlete in Russia in a national poll in 2020

How much of this is to do with his undefeated record?

Khabib gets a lot of hate by a vocal minority but in reality he's absurdly successful at everything in and outside MMA.

Who is the #1 most followed?

 

[capnlarge]

He was a dominant champion, he is multilingual, he is charismatic and funny, he took part in the UFC PPV with the highest buy rate.

 

[Mentallooser]

That's part of it. The manner in which he would dominate his peers is another.

 

[DS7]

1 B muslims in the world
Combat, combat sports, and wrestling are key aspects of religion.
Khabib is the best muslim in MMA of all time.
Khabib also represents the potential of muslims all aroudn the world struggling to create a meaningful life with all the sheningans western governments play in disrupting them worldwide.
Khabib is a hero.

Cool story but the reason he's really popular is because he beat Conor in a 2,4 million ppv

 

[balkanbomber85]

I mean, I'm not.

I would say the taqiya is very strong with this one…

 

[matrixremaster]

He was a dominant champion, he is multilingual, he is charismatic and funny, he took part in the UFC PPV with the highest buy rate.

This is all true, but if you look at Mayweather, he had similar popularity for a measure of time. There is a certain mythical stature that 0 gives a fighter. I can't help but think if Khabib got knocked out he wouldn't be half as popular. Maybe less even.

 

[cburm]

We saw this with Floyd, is the undefeated phenomena at work here?

- He's the most followed Russian on the planet (34.7 million)
- Second most followed fighter in UFC history
- Was voted best athlete in Russia in a national poll in 2020

How much of this is to do with his undefeated record?

Khabib gets a lot of hate by a vocal minority but in reality he's absurdly successful at everything in and outside MMA.

Hes interesting and Muslim and was backed by a dictator I'm sure he is political in Dagestan and his father is prolly well known.

 

[pamirec]

That zero is and will always be helpful.

 

[Terrestrial Extra]

1 B muslims in the world
Combat, combat sports, and wrestling are key aspects of religion.
Khabib is the best muslim in MMA of all time.
Khabib also represents the potential of muslims all aroudn the world struggling to create a meaningful life with all the sheningans western governments play in disrupting them worldwide.
Khabib is a hero.

That is the biggest part of it. Also the best Russian fighter by far since Fedor's prime and considering there are millions of Russians, that helps his popularity as well.