Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the National Security Adviser of the United Arab Emirates and a prominent figure in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world, recently shared the mats with former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The training session took place during Abu Dhabi Challenge Week, an event that has become a cornerstone of the UAE’s growing martial arts scene. Sheikh Tahnoun, known for his passion for BJJ and his contributions to its growth in the Middle East, took to Instagram to share his experience.
“We enjoyed training with former UFC MMA Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov during his visit to the Abu Dhabi Challenge Week,” the Sheikh posted, accompanied by photos of the two martial artists on the mats.
Nurmagomedov, widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, reciprocated the sentiment on his own social media. “It was big honor to share mats with his highness in Abu Dhabi. Thank you so much for invitation Brother,” the former champion wrote.
This wasn’t the first encounter between the two. They initially met in 2020, just days before Nurmagomedov’s final UFC bout against Justin Gaethje. At the time, Nurmagomedov’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, described the meeting as a dream come true.
“Finally the meeting happened… It was my dream to see Khabib meet His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the spiritual father of mixed martial arts and ground fighting in the Arab world and one of the contributors to the development of these sports not only in his country but in the world,” Abdelaziz shared on social media.
Sheikh Tahnoun’s influence on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the UAE has been compared to that of the Gracie family in Brazil. His passion for the sport dates back to the early days of the UFC, with reports suggesting he has been a fan since the promotion’s inaugural event.
The training session between these two martial arts luminaries highlights the UAE’s growing prominence in the world of combat sports. With high-profile events like UFC 308 recently taking place in the country, and the frequent presence of international stars like Nurmagomedov, many are beginning to view the UAE as an emerging epicenter for martial arts.
