Paris Saint-Germain didn’t just win—they completely dominated, ending the game with a stunning 5-0 victory.
But as the story unfolded, Abdo later apologized and there’s actually a very specific cultural and religious reason why Khabib didn’t take her hand.
The awkward moment and why Nurmagomedov refused to shake Abdo’s hand
Kate Abdo was working the Champions League Final broadcast alongside big names like Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, and Micah Richards.
Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov—who made history as the longest-reigning UFC Lightweight Champion from April 2018 to March 2021 was there as a special guest. He warmly greeted the others, exchanging handshakes and friendly embraces. But when it was Abdo’s turn?
She extended her hand to greet him, but Khabib politely declined. Instead, he placed his hand over his chest in a gesture of respect.
Khabib is a practicing Sunni Muslim, and his faith prohibits physical contact with members of the opposite sex unless they are direct family members. That’s why he chose not to shake hands, and why Abdo felt it was appropriate to apologize once she realized the context.
Social media response
One person on Twitter commented: “Mad respect to Kate for understanding afterwards and issuing an apology.”
Another Reddit user chimed in with: “They both handled that very well and quickly.”
Someone else pointed out: “It is out of respect. Notice how he holds his hand to his heart; this is a greeting in itself.”
Back in 2020, he declined to directly train with former UFC fighter Cynthia Calvillo.
He was still willing to demonstrate some fight techniques but made sure to avoid direct physical contact with her, staying true to the same principles.