UFC 229 Ends in Utter Chaos, People Arrested Could Be Barred from U.S.
The action in the main event of UFC 229 was tense throughout the contest that saw Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov defeat Irishman Conor McGregor by submission in the fourth round.
But the action after the fight at the T-Mobile Arena just outside Las Vegas is what really had everyone talking, as Nurmagomedov then jumped in the crowd and attacked one of McGregor’s coaches.
Moments later, members of Nurmagomedov’s team jumped in the octagon and attacked McGregor who was still recovering from nearly being choked out.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bon1pLlH2Dg/?hl=en&taken-by=zlatanmagic
The after-fight brawl marred what is expected to be, according to Fox Business News, the most lucrative pay-per-view in UFC history. The projected number of PPV buys was 3 million, which would make it the most-watched UFC event of all-time and the third most-watched fighing event behind two Floyd Mayweather bouts.
It also marked McGregor’s return to the octagon after a two-year hiatus. But the actual fight became secondary after the post-fight chaos that erupted.
“Three guys have been arrested,” said Dana White, president of Ultimate Fighting Championship, White said in a postfight interview with Fox Sports. “There are going to be charges filed against them, I’m sure. God knows what the Nevada State Athletic Commission is going to do to Khabib and his guys. Are these guys ever going to get a visa again to get back into this country? There’s a lot of repercussions from what they did tonight, ones that I don’t think they even realize yet.”
TMZ reported that McGregor declined to press charges against the men so all three were released. The Nevada State Athletic Commission is holding Nurmagomedov’s $2 million paycheck until an investigation by NSAC is complete, The Washington Post reported.
After everything settled down, Nurmagomedov then addressed the media and the attack by McGregor at a news conference.
Following the Post-Fight Madness, @TeamKhabib addresses the media. #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/fw67tE6I6a
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) October 7, 2018
“Sorry to Athletic Commission, Nevada. Sorry to Vegas. I know this is not my best side. This is not my best side. I am a human being. I don’t understand how people can talk about I jumped over the cage.
“I’m a human, what about he talked about my religion, my country, my father, he come to Brooklyn and broke bus, almost killed a couple of people, what about this s***,” Nurmagomedov, who is Muslim, said defiantly.
Hours later, Nurmagomedov had calmed down as he returned home and re-watched the fight along with his team and some pizza.
Khabib chilling at home and Watching his fight vs conor #ufc229 #khabib #conor pic.twitter.com/jE20e3MJ1g
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamkhabibFc) October 7, 2018
Meanwhile, McGregor is already looking forward to a rematch.
Good knock. Looking forward to the rematch.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 7, 2018
McGregor is 2-2 in his last four UFC fights and this was his first loss in four title fights. Last month he signed a six-fight contract with UFC so he would presumably get another shot at Nurmagomedov who is now 27-0.
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