Fresh off a title victory, Russian UFC star Islam Makhachev (30-29) has traded the intensity of an octagon for spiritual visit to Istanbul, Türkiye.
The current UFC welterweight champion traveled Wednesday to the sacred Eyüp Sultan Mosque, located along the shores of the Golden Horn.
The 34-year-old devout Muslim was observed taking wudu or traditional ritual ablution at the courtyard fountain before performing namaz inside the historical mosque.
Speaking on the profound historical and religious significance of his visit, the Dagestani fighter reflected on the heritage of the site with his followers.
"The mosque Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was built in 1458," Makhachev wrote in Instagram.
"Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). He is especially known for the fact that after the Hijra (the migration from Mecca to Medina) the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Medina was the one who received him in his house."
Makhachev encouraged his supporters to explore the early history of the faith.
"This companion has a very interesting and significant history in Islam," he added. "I recommend everyone to familiarize themselves with it."
Built in 1458 under Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II just five years following the conquest of Constantinople, the mosque complex marks the burial place of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, best known for hosting the Prophet in his home in Medina after the Hijrah in 622.
As the standard-bearer for the Prophet Muhammad, al-Ansari died during the first Arab siege of Istanbul, then Constantinople, in the 670s.
As the initial major mosque project commissioned by the Ottomans in Istanbul, it remains one of the most venerated pilgrimage destinations in the Islamic world.
