Khabib still owes taxes from Justin Gaethje retirement bout in 2020

Khabib Nurmagomedov, the retired UFC lightweight champion, is facing a significant tax controversy in his native Russia. According to reports, the Russian government is investigating the 35-year-old star for allegedly unpaid taxes, and the debt is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.

The Russian Federal Tax Service (FTS) claims that Nurmagomedov owes approximately $3.3 to $3.4 million in unpaid taxes. The authorities have reportedly discovered inconsistencies in the documentation of the former champion’s businesses, including his charitable organization, his Eagle FC MMA promotion, and other investments.

Nurmagomedov’s team has refuted the allegations, stating that his entrepreneurial journey is going well. However, a recent report by RT has revealed that the authorities have frozen Nurmagomedov’s bank accounts due to an outstanding debt of over $1 million.

The FTS has also closed down several companies owned by Nurmagomedov or his relatives, raising suspicions of financial irregularities. The investigation has discovered that Nurmagomedov allegedly invested in start-ups and hotels in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates with unpaid tax funds.

Adding to the controversy, Nurmagomedov’s charitable foundation, the Makhachkala Foundation for Education, Sports and Social Initiatives, also faced punitive action in 2021 due to uncleared debts. The outstanding amount in that case was believed to be around $409.

Moreover, Nurmagomedov’s longtime rival, Conor McGregor, has consistently criticized the former champion, alleging that he must be held accountable for procuring investments from the now-incarcerated Russian billionaire, Ziyavudin Magomedov.

The tax controversy has raised concerns about Nurmagomedov’s financial dealings and his reluctance to return to Russia, where he is reportedly facing the threat of prosecution. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how Nurmagomedov and his team will address these allegations and resolve the outstanding tax liabilities.

Conor McGregor celebrates Khabib’s misfortune amid UFC star’s alleged Russia tax investigation

The ‘Notorious MMA’ basked in the glory of hearing about his bitter rival’s alleged financial situation

Conor McGregor appeared to revel in the demise of his former UFC rival Khabib Nurmagomedov, after reports in Russia suggested he was under investigation for issues related to unpaid tax.

Russian media reports have surfaced claiming Khabib, who retired from the UFC with an unblemished 29-0 record, is facing a $3.3 million bill to pay from the Russian tax authorities.

It is alleged he has lost access to his bank accounts over the issue after the Russian government apparently seized his assets over unpaid debts relating to his businesses – some of which have closed.

Unsurprisingly, McGregor was “ecstatic” over Khabib’s precarious situation after reposting a video from a fan of McGregor laughing and drinking a glass of red wine.

In a series of other tweets – which have now been deleted – McGregor, 35, referred to Khabib as a “terrorist”.

And in another taunt, he said Khabib was “broke and on the run”, telling his followers to remind him about “pushups for cash”.McGregor has already been warned to “be careful” with his ongoing tax critique, which may explain why he has removed the tweets from his X account.

McGregor vs Khabib, a bitter rivalry

The “pushups for cash” remark comes from a controversial video posted back in summer 2018, when Khabib and his cousin were accused of paying a homeless man to do pushups for cash.

Nurmagomedov retired from combat sports back in late 2020 and seemed content with his various businesses before the Russian government began to look into his tax activity.

While there has been no word to say whether he would return to the octagon again, it seems that ‘The Eagle’ will have his hands full due to his unconfirmed tax situation and a UFC comeback isn’t likely.

Fans would love to see the pair go head-to-head once again, but it doesn’t appear to be likely, with McGregor fully focused on training for his delayed fight against Michael Chandler.