Khabib Nurmagomedov hasn’t fought in years, but his presence is somehow stronger than ever. Most former champions end up as commentators or coaches. ‘The Eagle’ decided to do something different instead. He opened gyms. And no, it wasn’t about building a brand. ‘The Eagle’ built an entire system.

And now that system is reaching far beyond Dagestan. Khabib Nurmagomedov just revealed a new partnership that will plant his flag in one of the world’s most in-demand destinations, Phuket, Thailand. However, this is not just about opening another facility. It’s all about scale.

Khabib Nurmagomedov takes his father’s legacy from the Dagestan mountains to Phuket shores

“Friends, as part of our partnership with Sun Hills Development, where Khabib Gym will become an integral part of the project’s infrastructure,” Khabib Nurmagomedov wrote on X. “We are launching in one of the most valuable locations in Phuket, a hub of international demand and strong investment potential.

The concept will be integrated across two key residential developments, Layan and Lakeside, creating a unified premium sports ecosystem.”

He was not marketing it as just another gym launch. For him, it was about building something much bigger: true infrastructure. He described Khabib Gym as the island’s future go-to location for combat sports training, functional fitness, and learning from legitimate top-level experts.

‘The Eagle’ also made it clear that he isn’t just putting his name on it and disappearing. He intends to be hands-on, attending training camps, conducting seminars, and staying involved. That’s kind of his thing. True to his nature, Khabib is consistently thinking big and planning for the future.

Last year, ‘The Eagle’ penned a deal to start a multibillion-dollar joint venture with MultiBank Group. The plan? Khabib Nurmagomedov wants to open 30 gyms throughout the world and integrate sports, finance, and digital assets into a single regulated ecosystem.

The foundation upon which this expansion is built is what differentiates it from others. Back in Dagestan, in his native village of Sildi, ‘The Eagle’ built a mountain training center funded by his historic fight with Conor McGregor.

“Flew to America, took part in the biggest confrontation in the history of martial arts, beat up someone who I didn’t like (and they even paid me for it), and upon arrival home, invested it in this beautiful corner of Dagestan,” Nurmagomedov wrote on his Instagram story. “This training base has an interesting history.

And I would like to add one more thing: I will not recoup these investments in my life, and I did not and do not have a goal to do so. My goal was different.”

That goal was legacy, the same idea that his late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, had for decades. From the mountains of Dagestan to the beaches of Phuket, the blueprint has remained the same in the Nurmagomedov dugout: discipline, structure, and opportunity.

Khabib Nurmagomedov may have hung up his gloves after a 29-0 record, but in business, he’s still very much in the fight. It’s only now that he’s creating something that will outlast him.

Nurmagomedov plans to build a gym in Gaza

“One of my dreams in this life, when they are going to have their own country and build a beautiful airport in Gaza… I open my school there,” Khabib Nurmagomedov said at an event hosted by the Miftaah Institute. “Bring some very good coaches and train them. I believe many tough athletes are going to come from there and represent their beautiful country.”

For a man who has built his whole career on discipline and resilience, the idea fits his pattern: invest in places where strength already exists but needs to be structured. The UFC legend is already coaching Islam Makhachev, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Usman Nurmagomedov, and it’s evident he’s not trying to keep his smothering Dagestani style limited to the Russian mountains. He is taking it global.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is building long-term roots. If his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, created warriors in a small Dagestani village, ‘The Eagle’ seems to be set on exporting that same model anywhere he believes grit and opportunity can meet.