After UFC’s undefeated legend Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from the sport, Umar Nurmagomedov was dubbed the Dagestani fighter destined to keep ‘The Eagle’s legacy alive. Competing as a bantamweight, ‘The Young Eagle’ also carried the pride of his lineage as an elite mixed martial artist, maintaining an unblemished record for most of his career. That was until the former 135 lbs king, Merab Dvalishvili, took it away at UFC 311, the first PPV event of the year. Still, even after that monumental defeat, he’s back and ready to reclaim his glory once again.

At UFC 324, Umar Nurmagomedov is set to make his return inside the Octagon against Deiveson Figueiredo. And this isn’t just an anticipated comeback, as the Dagestani fighter would be looking forward to silencing his critics with a second straight win after beating Maurio Batista at UFC 321. But facing an improved Figueiredo won’t be an easy task, as fans are expecting a tough, all-out battle inside the cage. However, before all of that unfolds, let’s take a closer look at ‘The Young Eagle’s roots, starting with the details of his nationality and ethnicity. 

What Is Umar Nurmagomedov’s Ethnicity?

Umar Nurmagomedov hails from the mountainous region of Dagestan, which is part of the Republic of Russia. Interestingly, Dagestan lies in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe, home to around 3,182,054 citizens (according to Wikipedia) living along the Caspian Sea. Also, the 30-year-old proudly boasts Russian nationality, while representing the nation in the UFC as well. But that’s not all. The 135 lbs contender’s ethnicity makes his background even more fascinating.

Ethnically, ‘The Young Eagle’ belongs to a group called the Avars, one of the largest ethnic communities in the North Caucasus. According to Wikipedia, the people of Avar reside along both the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, and their language is distinct from the modern Russian language. Digging a little deeper, we found that the Avars make up about 30.5% of Dagestan’s population, followed by Dargins at 16.6% and Kumyks at 15.8%, making them the largest ethnic group in the region.

So, as we can see, Umar definitely comes from a rich cultural background, filled with deep history and fascinating traditions. With that in mind, let’s move forward to explore how his early life in Dagestan shaped him into the fighter he is today. 

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Where Is Umar Nurmagomedov From & What Is His Nationality?

Umar Nurmagomedov was born in 1996 in Kizilyurt, Dagestan, Russia. Just like him, his younger brother, Usman Nurmagomedov, who is two years younger, was also born in the same city. However, contrary to popular belief, Umar and his younger brother didn’t actually grow up with their legendary cousin, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Instead, they spent most of their childhood in their native village.

While living in Kizilyurt, Umar developed a passion for martial arts and began practicing freestyle wrestling before later switching to Thai boxing. Following in his older brother’s footsteps, Usman chose the same path as well. After some time, the two brothers moved to Makhachkala and joined their uncle, Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, at the Eagles MMA camp, where both began their journey under the legendary coach’s guidance.

What Is Umar Nurmagomedov’s Religion?

Umar Nurmagomedov comes from Dagestan, Russia, specifically of Avar ethnic origin. This is a region where Islam is the predominant religion, especially among fighters in the Nurmagomedov family and the broader Eagles MMA camp. It also includes his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.

With that said, do you think he can continue winning? Let us know in the comments section below.