Footage has surfaced online showing UFC Hall of Fame fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov being escorted off an Alaska Airlines flight at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas following a disagreement over seating arrangements. The incident occurred during a flight bound for Los Angeles.
The dispute reportedly centered around Nurmagomedov’s eligibility to sit in an exit row, which requires passengers to be able and willing to assist in an emergency. A flight attendant was seen on video asking the 36-year-old if he could fulfill the necessary responsibilities associated with the seat.
In the video, the flight attendant is heard saying, “We cannot allow you to sit in the exit row … I am not going to do this back and forth. I’ll go call a supervisor. You can either take a different seat or we can escort you off the plane.”
Nurmagomedov, visibly frustrated, responded by stating, “It’s not fair,” adding that he had complied fully during check-in. He also explained that he had been asked if he spoke English during boarding and confirmed that he did.
Despite the former UFC champion’s explanation, the flight supervisor insisted that Nurmagomedov change his seat or leave the flight. When he declined, he and his traveling companions were escorted off the plane.
Reports suggest that Nurmagomedov was en route to California to support his teammates ahead of the upcoming UFC 311 event in Los Angeles, scheduled for January 18.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired undefeated with a 29-0 record and is regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists in history. His removal from the flight has sparked discussion online, with some fans questioning the necessity of the incident, while others pointed to standard airline protocols for exit row seating.
The airline has yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter.
