Observers have recently turned their attention towards an incident involving IShowSpeed, former UFC Champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and prominent CBS host, Kate Abdo. This occurred on Sunday, June 1, during the Champions League Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan at Munich’s Allianz Arena, where the Parisian team emerged as the clear victors with an impressive 5-0 lead. An aspect of the event that quickly became the talk of the town was Khabib Nurmagomedov’s seemingly intentional avoidance of Kate Abdo’s extended handshake, despite having offered his own moments prior, including one to IShowSpeed. As Abdo extended an invitation to shake hands, Nurmagomedov, surprisingly, declined.
Nurmagomedov, a key figure in professional mixed martial arts, holds the record for the longest tenure as UFC Lightweight Champion, reigning from April 2018 to March 2021. As part of his participation in the fixture, he socialised with other prominent figures, notably shaking hands with them. Nevertheless, he refrained from doing the same with Abdo, choosing instead to place his hand over his heart. Taken aback by this, Abdo withdrew her hand in time and offered an apology before introducing him to the audience.
IShowSpeed, a popular YouTuber, was caught in the camera’s focus at the moment of Nurmagomedov’s denial of the handshake. He seemed to react with noticeable surprise, turning away from the camera with a shocked expression and his tongue out. It’s clear that Nurmagomedov’s gesture didn’t escape his notice. This particular moment swiftly transformed into a viral sensation.
A few days post the Champions League match, the footage featuring IShowSpeed’s reaction has sparked varied online discussions. Much disbelief was expressed by many viewers of the clip. One surprised viewer said, ‘This caught me off guard.’ A puzzled user on social media queried: ‘WTF is Speed doing there in the first place.’
Nurmagomedov is known to be a devout follower of Sunni Islam, according to which touching opposite-sex individuals outside one’s immediate family is traditionally discouraged. In this context, both Nurmagomedov and Abdo have received plaudits for the respectful manner in which they managed the unusual situation. The audience feedback was predominantly positive, lauding both the parties for their elegant composure.
One responder expressed his appreciation by saying, ‘Mad respect to Kate for understanding afterwards and issuing an apology.’ Another participant in the conversation noted, ‘They both handled that very well and quickly.’ A third person shed light on the cultural and religious nuances of the situation: ‘It is out of respect. Notice how he holds his hand to his heart; this is a greeting in itself.’ Indeed, another chimed in, ‘This was the most respectful exchange.’
Notably, this isn’t the first instance where Nurmagomedov’s personal beliefs have governed his professional interactions. In 2020, he had declined to engage in direct contact training with fellow UFC athlete Cynthia Calvillo. He contented himself with demonstrating certain techniques from a distance, thereby upholding his principles while still participating in the training.
The post Khabib Nurmagomedov Shuns Handshake from Kate Abdo at Champions League Final appeared first on Real News Now.
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