Ultimate fighting title bout ends in riot as winner attacks crowd
VIOLENCE inside and outside the ring marred one of the biggest mixed martial arts fights in history yesterday.
Undefeated Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov climbed out of the ring and attacked Irishman Conor McGregor’s camp, moments after beating him in an Ultimate Fighting Championship contest in Las Vegas.
Security staff and police rushed to break up the brawl, but a second fight broke out inside the ring between McGregor and members of Nurmagomedov’s entourage.
Three Russians were arrested, but released after McGregor, 30, did not press charges. The early-hours’ bout was billed as the biggest in the sport’s history.
It is the first time McGregor had fought in the UFC since he gave up his titles to take on Floyd Mayweather in a one-off boxing contest.
Nurmagomedov, 30, apologised to organisers but claimed he had suffered a barrage of personal insults.
He said: “I know this is not my best side. I’m a human being.
“I don’t understand how people can talk about [how] I jump over the cage. He [McGregor] talked about my religion, he talked about my country, and about my mother.
“He come to Brooklyn and he broke the bus. He almost killed a couple of people. Why are people talking about me jumping over the cage?”
UFC president Dana White said: “I don’t like it and don’t want to ever be in that position again. It’s a great sport with great athletes and this is not how we conduct ourselves.”
McGregor, who attacked a bus carrying Nurmagomedov in May, tweeted yesterday: “Good knock. Looking forward to the rematch.” Furious Khabib Nurmagomedov is restrained after defeating Conor McGregor yesterday