Mixed martial arts champion and national hero Khabib Nurmagemedov was swarmed by thousands of jubilant fans after returning home to the Russian republic of Dagestan following his Oct. 6 win over the Irish fighter Conor McGregor.
Nurmagomedov’s fourth-round submission win at the UFC 229 event in Las Vegas, Nevada, was marred by a ringside brawl sparked by the Dagestani fighter’s dramatic jump from the Octagon cage towards members of McGregor’s corner, part of a bitter feud between the two fighters’ camps.
The Dagestani grappler later apologized for his actions in a post-fight press conference, and tried to explain his actions by saying that McGregor and his team had gone too far in the pre-bout trash talk.
“First of all, I want to say sorry to Nevada Athletic Commission and second to Vegas. I know this is not my best side. I’m a human being. But I don’t understand how people can talk about how I jump on the cage. He talked about my religion, he talked about my country, he talked about my father,” he said at the post-fight press conference.
“This is a respectful sport, not a trash-talking sport,” said Nurmagomedov. “I want to change the game, you cannot talk about religion, about nationality,” he said without answering any reporters’ questions before leaving.
Nurmagomedov later again apologized on Instagram.
He said “I apologize to everyone whom I have offended in our … victory.” He also wrote: “Thank you for your incredible support, I love you, yours truly” to his fans.
On Oct. 8, at the Anzhi Arena stadium in Dagestan’s capital Makhachkala, Nurmagomedov again struck a defiant tone before a crowd of about 10,000 ecstatic fans.
#Khabib Nurmagomedov fans gathered at local football stadium in #Dagestan to meet #UFC lightweight champion #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/tLJ2i6r5f7
— Denis Geyko (@DenisGeykoRT) October 8, 2018
“And with what happened afterwards, some people say I did the wrong thing, others that I did the right thing,” said Nurmagomedov, whose nickname in fighting circles is known to be The Eagle, RT reported.
“You can’t confine an eagle to a cage. And I showed them that,” Nurmagomedov said, as chants of “Khabib! Khabib!” rose throughout the stands.
Zealous fans then invaded the pitch to get closer to their idol, according to video tweeted by RT sports reporter Denis Geyko.
#Khabib Nurmagomedov fans invade the pitch at local football stadium in #Dagestan to get closer to their hero #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/JvhGsFH96Y
— Denis Geyko (@DenisGeykoRT) October 8, 2018
INSANE SCENES as #Khabib Nurmagomedov invade the pitch of local football stadium in #Dagestan #UFC229 @TeamKhabib pic.twitter.com/QD7jSfRP16
— Denis Geyko (@DenisGeykoRT) October 8, 2018
Traditional folk dancing outside of Anzhi Arena in Dagestan, where #Khabib fans gathered to meet #UFC lightweight champion #UFC229 @TeamKhabib pic.twitter.com/Xidrrp8ptl
— Denis Geyko (@DenisGeykoRT) October 9, 2018
#Khabib Nurmagomedov fans gathered at local football stadium in #Dagestan #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/IaRctSa88o
— Denis Geyko (@DenisGeykoRT) October 8, 2018
Nurmagomedov to Face Sanctions
In the aftermath of the brawl that followed Nurmagomedov’s victory over McGregor, the Nevada State Athletic Commission plans to file complaints against both fighters.
Commission chairman Anthony Marnell told ESPN on Oct. 8 that the board is investigating the Oct. 6 fracas.
Nurmagomedov had his $2 million purse held with a complaint pending, multiple media outlets reported. McGregor received his $3 million payment, but that was before the NSAC saw video that implicated the Irish star of post-fight wrongdoing as well.
“We will be filing against Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov,” Marnell told ESPN. “Because we withheld one purse, we will have to move expeditiously to a complaint and hearing. We have held 100 percent of one of the fighter’s money. Temporary suspensions will be out shortly, and we’re shooting for a final hearing date in November.”
UFC head Dana White said he hoped the Dagestani fighter would not be punished too harshly.
“They took his whole purse right now and they’re talking about keeping his purse—I do not think that that should happen,” White told TMZ Sports.
“I think they should take a quarter of a million dollars from him,” White said. “(He) absolutely keeps his title. And he’s going to get suspended, so maybe you give him a four to six months suspension.”
From The Epoch Times
