Nina Drama, the UFC personality known for her lighthearted interviews and revealing outfits, created a stir in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia this week when she wore a hajib.
Now it might be the most famous head covering in Saudi Arabia.
It was the condition of an interview with UFC fighter Movsar Evloev, a practicing Muslim from Russian. He will fight for the featherweight title against reigning champion Alexander Volkanovski Saturday, Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi.
Drama, whose legal name is Nina-Marie Daniel, indicated this was not universally applauded.
"I never imagined that me showing respect and wearing a hijab to interview Movsar Evloev would be so controversial… but then again everything I do is somehow always controversial,’’ she wrote on X.
Why Nina Drama was required to wear a hijab
Evloev later
explained he told Drama she had to wear the hijab because he thought she would refuse and then he would get out of the interview. It did not work.
On the day of the interview, he waited in front of a TV crew before Drama arrived wearing a full robe and hajib.
“Let’s see,’’ Evloev said when Drama emerged and spun around to show off her "fit.'' “Oh ho. Look gorgeous.’’
Sitting side-by-side, Drama looked into her notebook, presumably filled with questions for the interview, then paused.
"Can I look at you?" she asked awkwardly.
"Yeah, of course," Evloev said.
UFC fighter Movsar Evloev is not a fan of the last season of Attack on Titans anime LOL pic.twitter.com/gZb9Af44If
— Nina-Marie Daniele (@Ninadrama) October 23, 2026
'Some people are offended' by UFC hijab interview
Soon began the interview, with Drama firing off questions, albeit with more restraint than usual. Evloev looked relaxed and engaged as they discussed athletes being asked questions about politics, how he learned English watching anime and his interest in cooking.
“At the end of the day it’s always about respect,’’ Drama wrote on X. ” I have so much respect for all my Muslim friends. I love learning about cultures and I'm so grateful for the UFC for giving me the opportunity to travel the world.
“Some people are offended and that's fine, this came from a place of respect and wanting to be able to make Movsar Evloev comfortable in our interview. My interviews are not 'mandatory' and never were, the fighters that show up show up because they want to and I was in no way shape or form 'forced' to do anything.
"Thank you to Movsar and his team for giving me the opportunity to show the fans a different side of him! I'm so happy people are enjoying the interview!"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nina Drama's hajib stirs controversy at UFC 333 in Saudi Arabia
