BREAKING: Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor’s punishment revealed for UFC 229 melee
Last night, Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov agreed to a settlement for their post-fight melee at UFC 229. The settlement meant McGregor and Nurmagomedov did not have to be in Vegas for their hearing, however, their punishment would still be handed down.
Following UFC 229, Nurmagomedov jumped over the Octagon and attacked McGregor’s corner which started the melee. Then, some of Nurmagomedov’s team went into the Octagon to attack McGregor. Ultimately, McGregor threw a punch at Nurmagomedov’s teammate on top of the Octagon while Nurmagomedov was outside it.
Nurmagomedov’s entire $2 million fight purse was withheld while he and McGregor were suspended indefinitely. The hearing was initially supposed to happen in December but got pushed back to January.
Today, the hearing happened in which Nevada decided to suspend Nurmagomedov for nine months and a $500,000 fine. However, the suspension could be reduced to six months if Nurmagomedov records an anti-bullying PSA.
As well, the suspension would be retroactive to October 6 meaning the nine months would be over July 6, which could be just in time for International Fight week. If it is reduced to six months he could return to the Octagon April but Ramadan is from May 5 to June 4 where Nurmagomedov would not fight during that time anyway. Meaning a July return could make sense for Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov’s teammates Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Zubaira Tukhugov were also suspended for one year and a $25 thousand fine, retroactive to October 6.
Official: Zubaira Tukhugov, Khabib’s teammate, has been suspended a year and fined $25k by the NAC. Again, I wouldn’t expect Khabib to fight before that suspension expires, which would be on 10/6/19.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 29, 2019
However, ESPN’s Ariel Helwani is reporting that Nurmagomedov will not fight until his teammate’s suspensions are up. That means, Nurmagomedov will not return until October 6, 2019, if that turns out to be the case.
Meanwhile, McGregor was suspended for six months retroactive to October 6 and fined $50 thousand. That means McGregor could return as early as April 6, where his next fight could very well be against Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. However, McGregor has been clamoring for a rematch against Nurmagomedov.
The commission is saying they need to take an active role in holding fighters accountable for their language and conduct at press conferences. They don’t seem happy with the dialogue from McGregor leading up to the fight. Chairman Marnell called it “embarrassing."
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 29, 2019
Marnell: We are going to start fining and suspending for what you say as opposed to what you do.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 29, 2019
Some bad news for McGregor is the fact that Nevada does not seem happy with how he conducts himself at press conferences. It appears they will start fining and suspending fighters for what they say.
