Fists flew both inside and outside the octagon Saturday as a post-fight brawl marred a dominant performance by Khabib Nurmagomedov over Conor McGregor at the highly anticipated UFC 229 in Las Vegas.
In the aftermath, three members of Nurmagomedov’s entourage were arrested, but later released because McGregor declined to press charges, according to Bleacher Report, which cited information from Dana White, president of Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Nurmagomedov, undefeated at 27-0, and the UFC’s lightweight champion at 155 pounds, won the fight in Round 4 by subduing McGregor at the 3:03 mark, the Washington Post reported.
Right afterward, Nurmagomedov, of Russia, jumped out of the octagon and went after one of McGregor’s trainers and threw his mouthpiece — and a brawl ensued.
This angle from @RamGilboa shows the madness a bit better. #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/SkQMVdz09w
— FloCombat (@FloCombat) October 7, 2018
The trainers responded with taunts and climbed over the octagon and fought Dillon Danis, a Bellator welterweight who trains with McGregor.
An unidentified man then climbed into the octagon and punched a weary McGregor, of Dublin, who was still recovering from the fight.
“I don’t even know what to say right now,” White said afterward. “I’m just disgusted and sick over it. … We had so much security and (police) here. I didn’t see that one coming.”
McGregor will be paid but not Nurmagomedov, per an investigation by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
“I know my father is going to smash me when I go him. I know he is going to smash me. Vegas, I’m sorry and Nevada, I’m sorry.” — Khabib Nurmagomedov #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/13r1bYavwQ
— Brian Campbell (@BCampbellCBS) October 7, 2018
Nurmagomedov and McGregor, 21-4, left the ring before the winner of the fight was announced. White feared that putting the belt on Nurmagomedov would further rile the crowd.
LOOOOOOL THESE RUSSIANS DONT PLAY PLAY #UFC 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/ImqlkDlCrW
— lil tunchi baby (@Itsladan) October 7, 2018
The fight was marred by bad blood between the two that goes back to when McGregor threw a handtruck at a bus carrying Nurmagomedov last April at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. He had been upset at an earlier confrontation between Nurmagomedov and a member of his team.
McGregor was arrested following the incident.
The incident led to major hostilities between the two camps during the buildup to Saturday’s bout.
Watching the @TheNotoriousMMA vs @TeamKhabib fight. Unimaginable never thought it would go down like this. Crazier than my fight riot.
— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) October 7, 2018
Four security guards separated the two during the fighter introductions Saturday and both refused to touch gloves.
Daniel Cormier, a friend of Nurmagomedov’s, took to Twitter to give his thoughts on the melee.
Hey guys, two wrongs don’t make it right. Conor didn’t deserve that. No one did. But some things aren’t for fight promotion. Religion, family, country. Throwing stuff in Brooklyn. For Khabib it wasn’t fight promotion, it was really personal. Diff culture man. Sucks
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 7, 2018
It was McGregor’s first fight since winning the lightweight championship in 2016. He forayed into boxing in August 2017 when he was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather Jr.
During his absence from the UFC, the organization stripped him of his lightweight title for inactivity.
