Khabib Nurmagomedov aims to make MMA an Olympic sport by 2028

Khabib Nurmagomedov may have announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, but he still plans on being involved in the sport.

Shortly after he purchased MMA promotion Gorilla Fighting Championship, which he renamed Eagle Fighting Championship, Nurmagomedov has set his sights on further legitimizing the sport.

In a Tuesday news conference in Uzbekistan, Nurmagomedov revealed that he is currently working on getting MMA recognized as an Olympic sport and hopes his goal will be fulfilled by 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

“The inclusion of MMA in the Olympics is one of my main tasks for the next couple of years,” Nurmagomedov said in Russian, as translated by Essentially Sports. “We are already working in this direction. In the near future, I will have many meetings, including with the president of the Olympic committee. I think, if not in Paris, then in in Los Angeles we have a great chance of promoting MMA.”

Nurmagomedov, who still holds the UFC lightweight championship, understands that it won’t be an easy task given the general reputation of MMA as a violent sport. But “The Eagle” is firm in his belief that once MMA is on such a massive platform like the Olympics, everybody will benefit.

“The only question is the cruelty of the sport,” Nurmagomedov said. “This is not encouraged at the Olympics. They do not want there to be a lot of blood. But in terms of recognition, sponsorship, in terms of interest for television, MMA, I think that if it enters the Olympics program, it will be on a par with football and athletics in interest.”