CBS Sports presenter Kate Scott has been commended for how she handled the situation after UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov declined to shake her hand during a live broadcast.
Scott was reporting live from Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena alongside football icons Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards, and viral streamer iShowSpeed.
The crew was covering the Champions League final, where Paris Saint-Germain secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Inter Milan.
It marked one of the most one-sided finals in recent history, with goals from Achraf Hakimi, Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Senny Mayulu leading PSG to their first-ever Champions League title.
But it wasn’t the match that sparked the most conversation — it was what happened afterward.
Following the game, Scott greeted Khabib as he joined the panel, and he shook hands with the male presenters at the table.
However, when Scott extended her hand to him, the UFC star chose to place his hand on his chest instead.
“Nice to meet you, welcome to the show,” she said warmly as she reached out.
When Khabib declined the handshake, the moment quickly registered with Scott, who gracefully responded, “I apologise, thank you so much.”
His gesture wasn’t intended to be disrespectful—it reflected his religious beliefs.
According to Bradford Muslim College, Muslim men typically refrain from physical contact, such as handshakes, with women who are not mahram (close relatives).
Khabib’s hand-to-heart gesture was a respectful way of acknowledging the greeting while staying true to his faith.
Viewers at home took notice and praised both individuals for their conduct.
“Great interaction between Khabib and Kate. Respect other people’s boundaries—no need to take it personally. Khabib showed respect in his own way while staying true to his values. Top class,” one fan wrote on social media.
Another viewer shared a similar sentiment: “Much respect to Khabib for staying true to his beliefs, and equal respect to Kate for understanding and accepting it.”
A third added, “It was a little awkward watching Khabib skip the handshake with Kate, but she handled it like a true professional—graceful and composed.”
Someone else noted, “By not shaking her hand, he actually showed the highest level of respect within his beliefs. If he had, it might have felt disrespectful to both her and his values.”
Overall, the moment seemed to be handled with mutual respect and dignity by both Scott and Khabib.
