Conor McGregor ‘didn’t intend‘ to punch Khabib Nurmagomedov’s brother - then brags about how good it was
McGregor and Nurmagomedov have both been banned for their roles in the post-UFC 229 brawl, only for the Irishman to brag about his punch on Abubakar Nurmagomedov after he attacked him
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Your support makes all the difference.Conor McGregor has said that it was never his intention to end up in a brawl with Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team after UFC 229, only to then break down how he threw the final punch.
McGregor received a six-month ban and was fined $50,000 (£38,095) for his part in the post-fight melee on 6 October, which landed Nurmagomedov a heftier punishment in the form of a nine-month suspension and $500,000 (£380,950) fine.
The incident proved to be one of the biggest embarrassments for the UFC, with Nurmagomedov leaping into the crowd where McGregor’s team were standing in order to attack the Irishman’s teammate Dillon Danis, while a number of the Russian’s entourage rushed the Octagon and attacked McGregor.
The scenes were in response to McGregor’s previous attack on their team bus and the verbal abuse he aimed at Nurmagomedov in the lead-up to their fight, which went in Nurmagomedov’s favour via a fourth-round submission.
After the sanctions were handed out, Nurmagomedov put out a short Twitter post that simply read “Politics forever”, but McGregor decided to write two lengthy statements about the incident.
The first thanked the Nevada State Athletic Commission and appeared to be an attempt to try and ease the tension between the two camps.
“I am thankful for the Nevada Athletic Commission’s fair assessment and handling of the brawl incident,” McGregor wrote. “It was not my intention to land the final blow of the night on my opponent’s blood relative. It’s just how it played out.
“I look forward to competing again soon. Thank you all.”
However, the second post, sent immediately after the first, boast about the technique of the punch that he threw at Nurmagomedov’s brother, Abubakar, after evading his effort to hit in.
“Straight left hand inside the attackers jab,” the Dubliner wrote. “He attempted to use the big security guard that’s in all the movies as cover, but I could smell him a mile away and landed flush down the pipe.
“The final blow of the night UFC 229 in association with McGregor Sports and Entertainment.”
Both fighters have had their bans backdated to the night of the fight, which means McGregor is free to fight again in Las Vegas from 6 April, while Nurmagomedov will have to wait until July before his suspension is lifted – although the NSAC ruled that his nine-month ban will be cut by three months if he participates in an anti-bullying campaign in Nevada.
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