Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor suspended for UFC 229 brawl

MMA stars Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor have been suspended for their role in a post-fight brawl that marred their main event contest at UFC 229.

Both fighters reportedly agreed settlements with the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) ahead of the disciplinary hearing today, which sees both men fined and suspended from active competition.

$500,000 fine for Khabib

Nurmagomedov was fined $500,000 and suspended for nine months for his part in the ugly scenes that followed his victory over McGregor, which saw him leave the cage to angrily confront McGregor’s teammate Dillion Danis – almost sparking a full-scale riot in the T-Mobile Arena.

McGregor, meanwhile, who was reported to have thrown the first punch when confronted in the Octagon, received a $50,000 fine and six-month suspension for his actions.

Eligible to fight again from April

Both suspensions will be backdated to run from the October 6, 2018 contest, and Nurmagomedov will be eligible for a three-month reduction if he completes an anti-bullying public service announcement in Nevada. Essentially, both fighters could be cleared to compete from April 6 of this year.

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Several of Khabib’s teammates were also sentenced for their part in the fracas at the NAC hearing earlier. Abubakar Nurmagomedov has been suspended one year fined $25,000 for jumping in the octagon and attacking McGregor, while Zubaira Tukhugov, who was also involved, has received an identical punishment.

‘Embarrassing’ pre-match trash talk

During the hearing, at which neither Khabib nor McGregor attended, NAC chairman Anthony Marnel issued a warning to fighters for their pre-fight conduct, calling McGregor’s actions “embarrassing” in the lead-up to the highly anticipated grudge match. “The fighters are on notice: we are going to start fining and suspending for what you say as opposed to what you do.”

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It didn’t take long for Khabib long to react to the news today, tweeting shortly after the Commission delivered its verdict that ‘politics’ were to blame for his punishment.

politics forever

— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 29, 2019