There are few sports in the world that require as much discipline than MMA. Stars in the world of UFC will work incredibly hard to reach the pinnacle of the sport, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t allowed to enjoy their downtime.
For many, that involves watching other sports. The vast majority of MMA stars have a passion for soccer, and they are keen followers of specific teams.
Followers of their teams will typically attend matches in person, and they will also keep up to date with results during training camps. But, who do some of the most famous MMA stars support?
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a life-long follower of both Real Madrid and Spartak Moscow, as well as the Russian national team.
Nurmagomedov is one of the most dominant MMA stars in history, dominating the lightweight division throughout his career. The Russian was the longest-reigning lightweight champion in history, as he held the title between April 2018 and March 2021.
He retired from the sport after winning all 29 of his professional bouts. Nurmagomedov is widely considered to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time, and his achievements were honoured in June 2022 when he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Controversial MMA star Conor McGregor is a lifelong fan of Man United, while he also cites himself as a huge Celtic fan. The Irishman is one of the most famous MMA stars in the world, and was a pioneering figure in achieving mainstream success for the UFC.
McGregor became the first two-weight champion in UFC history after holding both the featherweight and lightweight championships simultaneously. He became the featherweight champion at UFC 189, before scoring one of the quickest finishes in title history when beating Jose Aldo in 13 seconds.
McGregor suffered defeat against Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, and has also flirted with boxing, most famously competing against Floyd Mayweather in a lucrative bout, which he lost by TKO in the tenth round. The Irishman’s last fight in the UFC ended via TKO against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
Francis Ngannou was widely considered to be one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the UFC during his time at the top of the sport. However, outside of the octagon, he was a massive follower of Arsenal and even attended matches at the Emirates in between training camps.
You can check how the Gunners position right now in the Premier League winner odds here.
The Cameroonian-born star competed in the heavyweight division in the UFC between 2015 and 2022, and he was the heavyweight champion when departing the company.
During his time with the UFC, he ended seven of his 14 fights before the two minute mark in the first round, with a staggering 13 of his 21 fights being won by knockout. That dominance has continued in the PFL, winning the inaugural heavyweight championship in October 2024.
Like McGregor, Ngannou also competed in boxing, knocking down lineal world champion Tyson Fury in an exhibition, before being defeated by the Gypsy King and later suffering a knockout loss against Anthony Joshua.
Stipe Miocic is one of the MMA stars that was brought into the life of following soccer, as he revealed that he became an avid fan of West Ham United after being invited to a match by sponsors.
Miocic competed in the heavyweight division in the UFC for much of his career, and is a two-time champion in the division. He successfully defended the gold on four occasions across his two championship reigns, and he holds the record for the most wins in title fights in the division.
Miocic is also the record holder for the longest title defence streak in MMA history. The 42-year-old is widely regarded to be one of the great heavyweights of all-time, and he retired from the sport in 2024.
Jose Aldo is regarded as one of the greatest featherweights in UFC history. However, outside of the world of MMA, the Brazilian is an avid follower of his hometown soccer club, Flamengo.
Aldo made history by becoming the first UFC Featherweight champion, and he remained undefeated in the sport for over ten years, winning a staggering 18 fights. However, his winning sequence was ended at UFC 194 when losing to Conor McGregor. Aldo was named as the Fighter of the Year by Sherdog in 2009, and he continues to be a major draw in the UFC to this day.
The Brazilian now competes in the bantamweight division and is ranked as the eleventh best on ratings. At present, his professional record shows that he has won 32 of his 41 fights, with 17 of his victories being achieved via knockout. However, success has been harder to achieve in his current division, and he will be looking for a response in 2025 after suffering a ninth professional defeat at the hands of Mario Bautista at UFC 307 in October 2024.