UFC fight ends with ugly melee
CHAOS erupted after Khabib Nurmagomedov retained his UFC lightweight title with a submission victory over Ireland’s Conor McGregor, with members of his support team arrested after an all-in brawl broke out following the bout. The Russian ended McGregor’s attempt to win back the title on Saturday when he sealed a brutal submission victory with a rear naked choke hold in the fourth round. The result sparked a mass brawl as fights broke out in and around the cage, with a red-shirted fan landing several blows on McGregor before security intervened. Both fighters were escorted from the arena by police and security. UFC boss Dana White later told Fox Sports that three members of Nurmagomedov’s team were arrested.
The fight had been highlighted by bad blood between both camps in the lead-up, and it boiled over after referee Herb Dean waved off the fight.
That prompted Nurmagomedov to jump out of the cage and head for McGregor’s cornerman Dillon Danis, prompting violent scuffles.
One man jumped the fence, swinging blows at McGregor before being bundled away by security and there were punches thrown in the crowd as police and security struggled to deal with the angry mob, most of whom had been backing the Irishman.
White entered the octagon to try to placate Nurmagomedov, who was not presented with the belt, although he was announced as the winner.
Early in the bout, McGregor, making a comeback to the octagon after nearly two years away, looked dangerous in the early striking exchanges but Nurmagomedov quickly smothered him with his wrestling skills and prevented him from getting back to his feet for the rest of the first round.
The Irishman was rattled by an early right cross in the second round.
McGregor survived until the end of the round, and in the third period he managed to keep the fight going, firing off shots to the head and body.
But it proved to be too little, too late, and Nurmagomedov was once again on top in the fourth. The fight ended 3min 03sec into the round.
The victory stretched Nurmagomedov’s pro record to 27-0 and handed the Irishman his second defeat in the UFC.