Nina Drama says she chose to wear hijab for Evloev interview out of respect

UFC interviewer Nina-Marie Daniele has responded to online backlash over her decision to wear a hijab during a pre-fight interview with featherweight contender Movsar Evloev, stating clearly that she was not pressured into the choice and acted solely out of respect.

Evloev is set to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the UFC featherweight title at UFC 333 on 24 October at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. During the interview, Evloev indicated that his religious beliefs would make it difficult for him to engage with her if she were dressed less modestly. Daniele, who goes by the name Nina Drama, said she chose to wear the hijab to make him comfortable and to facilitate the conversation.

After the interview drew criticism on social media, Daniele addressed the controversy directly on X. “At the end of the day it’s always about respect,” she wrote. “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.”

She also moved to dispel any suggestion that fighters or interviewers are compelled to participate in her segments. “My interviews are not ‘mandatory’ and never were,” Daniele wrote. “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.”

The episode has sparked a broader debate about cultural accommodation in sports media, with opinion divided between those who viewed Daniele’s gesture as a thoughtful act of respect and those who felt it was inappropriate. Daniele has not responded further beyond her initial statement on X.