Arman Tsarukyan Praises Khabib Nurmagomedov’s $9 Million Gym Investment

Arman Tsarukyan and Khabib Nurmagomedov (Photo by Imagn)

Arman Tsarukyan Praises Khabib Nurmagomedov’s $9 Million Gym Investment

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Pavan Sharma | Last updated May 8, 2026 2:38 PM ET

Khabib Nurmagomedov reportedly has invested approximately 500 million rubles, or around $5.5 million of his own money, into a state-of-the-art all-in-one training facility in Dagestan. The kind of infrastructure that doesn’t exist in that region without someone deciding to build it themselves and foot the bill personally. Meanwhile, Arman Tsarukyan shared his reaction to this big investment.

Tsarukyan didn’t dress up his assessment with unnecessary complexity. He just laid out exactly what he thinks is happening and why it matters. Tsarukyan knows the money side does not fully add up. But that is the point he is making. Khabib is not doing it for money. He built something huge and now wants to help the next generation get a real chance.

“If you look at it as a business, then it doesn’t make sense. But if you look at it as something for the future, for the next generation, for his people, he did a lot. We need more people like him who invest in and help sports,” Tsarukyan said.

Arman Tsarukyan couldn’t believe Khabib Nurmagomedov is spending $9 million to build gyms in his village. ‼️

“If you look at it as a business, then it doesn’t make sense, but if you look at it as something for the future, for the next generation, for his people, he did a lot.… pic.twitter.com/Dv1fr3bwLG
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) May 8, 2026

Dagestan has produced some of the world’s best and most complete fighters through hard work, culture, and discipline. But the region has often lacked top-level facilities and equipment. Khabib has now used his own money to help fix part of that problem.

Khabib Nurmagomedov Denies Vladimir Putin Funded His Gym Or Paid Bills

Reports had been circulating that Vladimir Putin gifted Khabib and his father over $20 million in property and helped cover his loans. And Tsarukyan’s comments about Khabib’s investment sparked a separate claim that the Russian president had actually funded the facility himself.

Khabib came out and shut that down without leaving any wiggle room. “This is absolutely not true. No one ever paid for my bills or built gyms for me,” he said. The gym was built with his money. The bills were paid with his money

Arman Tsarukyan couldn’t believe Khabib Nurmagomedov is spending $9 million to build gyms in his village. ‼️

“If you look at it as a business, then it doesn’t make sense, but if you look at it as something for the future, for the next generation, for his people, he did a lot.… pic.twitter.com/Dv1fr3bwLG
— FREAK.MMA (@FREAKMMA1) May 8, 2026

It matters because the narrative around Khabib’s post-retirement life has become increasingly complicated. The crypto deals, the NFT controversy, and the Putin property reports each add a layer that the public has to sort through.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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