The reigning UFC lightweight champion was noticeably absent from the media day events on Thursday outside of showing up to face off with opponent Dustin Poirier and then turning around and leaving again.
Fighters are typically required to speak to the media as part of fight week obligations but Nurmagomedov joins Nate Diaz as athletes who have recently been given exemptions from appearing alongside their opponents to answer questions from the media.
On Friday following the UFC 242 weigh-ins, Nurmagomedov lashed out while explaining why he didn’t appear at media day to answer questions earlier this week.