CBS Sports
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Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov went viral over the weekend for refusing to shake the hand of CBS Sports’ Champions League presenter Kate Scott (formerly Kate Abdo). The UCL Final was held in Munich on Saturday, May 31.
While making an appearance on CBS Sports’ postgame coverage of the 2025 Champions League Final — Paris Saint-Germain steamrolled Inter Milan to the tune of 5-0 — Khabib Nurmagomedov shook the hands of everyone at the desk — Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards, and even the streamer “Speed” — except the lone woman, Kate Scott.
Although Khabib did not explicitly say so, it was speculated online that he did not shake Abdo’s hand due to his religious beliefs. Scott quickly realized what happened and apologized to Khabib as she introduced him.
“I apologize, thank you so much. Khabib, UFC fighter, it’s a pleasure to have you. We didn’t know you were here!” Scott said after the awkward moment.
Finale LDC : la star du MMA, Khabib Nurmagomedov, qui s’était réjouie de la décapitation de Samuel Paty, refuse de serrer la main à la présentatrice vedette de CBS Sports ; cette dernière s’excuse. #PsgInter #PSGINT #ChampionsLeague #ChampsElysées pic.twitter.com/49jTZ3qlcb
— Fdesouche.com est une revue de presse (@F_Desouche) June 1, 2025
A Muslim man refused to shake Champions League host Kate Scott’s hand.
Kate apologised afterwards.
Why apologise? You should not have to respect other people’s cultures if it’s misogynistic. You’re not “Islamophobic” for believing that this has no place in a civilised society. pic.twitter.com/xvGAPr2sOH
— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90) June 1, 2025
Khabib, 36 years old, fought in the UFC from 2012 to 2020, was the longest-reigning Lightweight Champion in the history of the competition as he held the title ever, having held the title from April 2018 to March 2021. He retired in 2020 with an undefeated record of 29-0 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.
As for his personal life, Khabib married his reported distant cousin Patimat in 2013 and has three children with her. He’s also the most-followed Russian on Instagram and the second-most popular Muslim athlete in the world behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.