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Joseph Sipalan

Hadi Azmi

Khabib fever is rumbling in Malaysia after the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hall of famer announced he would set up a training gym in Johor, in a move that is set to draw legions of combat sports and fitness fans in the country and across the region.
The undefeated Dagestan-born Khabib Nurmagomedov this week agreed to set up the gym in the Malaysian state following discussions in October between Johor Regent Ismail Ibrahim and the UFC superstar. It will be the Russian mixed martial arts (MMA) legend’s second gym after he opened his first in the United Arab Emirates in 2022.
Former professional fighter turned coach Melvin Yeoh said the new Khabib Gym in Johor would inject more energy into Malaysia’s already thriving combat sports scene.
“If you are really into MMA, especially one who is building up grassroots [talent], you should be excited and very eager to see what it will bring to the local community,” Yeoh told This Week in Asia.
Yeoh said interest in combat sports such as boxing, muay thai and MMA started picking up in 2022 during the tail end of the pandemic in Malaysia.

Nurmagomedov’s star power - known as ‘The Eagle’ - is expected to further fuel strong interest in combat sports, said Yeoh, who runs his Ultimate MMA Academy in Johor Bahru.
Gyms are mushrooming across Malaysia to meet the demand for workouts and combat training as more people embrace exercise and a healthier lifestyle.
Malaysian boxer Farkhan Haron, who won Malaysia a gold medal in the 2009 SEA Games in Laos, said that the collaboration between Nurmagomedov and the Johor state would give young people a world-class sports facility.
“The gym is equipped with MMA octagon equipment, martial arts training room, cardio and weightlifting facilities and rehabilitation facilities such as a sauna and swimming pool,” said Farkhan, who was involved in the signing. “I am proud to be a part of this history.”
Nurmagomedov retired in 2021 as the UFC’s undisputed lightweight champion with a record of 29 wins and no losses.
He is widely seen as a role model – particularly for Muslim youth – with his strict discipline and code of honour that was on display in his 2020 victory over American Justin Gaethje.

In that fight, he switched out from his trademark armbar submission to a triangle choke as he did not want to break his opponent’s arm in front of Gaethje’s family members who were in the arena, according to former heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.
Nurmagomedov’s gym in the United Arab Emirates offers everything from fitness and weight training facilities to an MMA cage to train fighters.
Khabib Gym is expected to draw an influx of amateur fighters to Johor seeking a pathway to the professional leagues, according to Yeoh. Local competitions would benefit from aspiring fighters using the gym to seek experience and exposure to talent scout, he added.
But Yeoh, who has trained One FC Malaysian sensation Jihin “Shadow Cat” Radzuan, said he hoped Nurmagomedov’s gym would be a platform to grow local fighters instead of being dominated by imported talent.
“It is very hard to build local talent from the grassroots. You can hire people to play for you and of course, you would be proud if they win under your flag… but deep down inside we are all eager to have our first Malaysian [MMA] world champion,” Yeoh said.


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Malaysian MMA fans hail UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov’s plan to launch Johor gym

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Khabib Gym is set to draw combat sports fans from Malaysia and across the region and become a platform to groom professional fighters


Khabib Gym is set to draw combat sports fans from Malaysia and across the region and become a platform to groom professional fighters.


Malaysian MMA fans hail UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov’s plan to launch Johor gym

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Khabib Gym is set to draw combat sports fans from Malaysia and across the region and become a platform to groom professional fighters

Khabib Gym is set to draw combat sports fans from Malaysia and across the region and become a platform to groom professional fighters