Nurmagomedov is thought to hold both teams close to his heart, with Real Madrid and Galatasaray his second and third teams, respectively. His first footballing love, however, is his hometown club, FC Anzhi Makhachkala.

Khabib was spotted in the stands at the Turk Telekom stadium in Istanbul for the match, which served up a hostile atmosphere for the visiting Spanish giants, with the packed Turkish crowd booing and whistling every touch of the ball whenever Los Blancos took possession.

The Russian superstar is currently considering his options ahead of his next fight, with American former interim UFC champion Tony Ferguson currently believed to be the most likely next opponent for "The Eagle". The pair have been booked to fight on four separate occasions in the past, but injury and illness have nixed the matchup on each occasion.