Two die after 13-mile race
TWO Cardiff Half Marathon runners died yesterday after suffering cardiac arrests at the finishing line.
The men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were treated at the scene and taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales, where they later died.
Run 4 Wales chief executive Matt Newman said: “Everyone is devastated.
“They become the first fatalities in the 15-year history of the race.”
Almost 20,000 ran the 13.1mile route.
CONOR McGregor’s return to mixed martial arts for the biggest fight in UFC history descended into a disgraceful mass brawl.
Arch rival Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted the Irishman with a chokehold during a one-sided bout in Las Vegas early yesterday.
But after months of feuding between the pair, Nurmagomedov, 30 was not content to simply enjoy his victory.
Instead, the Russian started taunting the fallen challenger before shouting and hurling his gumshield towards McGregor’s corner.
The unbeaten lightweight champ then launched himself out of the cage and into the crowd, sparking an all-out punch-up as he attacked McGregor’s jiu-jitsu coach Dillon Danis.
As police and arena staff battled to contain the ruckus, two members of Nurmagomedov’s team then targeted McGregor, landing heavy punches.
Security stepped in to protect the Irishman before another man went for him. McGregor’s pregnant partner
Dee Devlin, 31, had to flee for safety.
“Total chaos,”
UFC commentator
Jon Anik said. “All hell has broken loose.”
“That was disgusting,” pundit Joe Rogan added. “It’s so incredibly disappointing.”
Both fighters were escorted from the cage without a belt presentation before Nurmagomedov was declared winner by ring announcer Bruce Buffer.
UFC president Dana White was overheard saying to the champion: “If I put this belt on you, everyone’s going to start throwing s*** into the Octagon.”
Three Russians were arrested but later released after McGregor, 30, refused to press charges.
Nurmagomedov had his £1.5million purse withheld pending an investigation by Nevada State Athletic Commission, which sanctioned the match.
McGregor will still pick up his £2.2million payment – a sum dwarfed by the £57million he reportedly got for his pro boxing match with Floyd Mayweather last year.
A crowd of 18,000, including golfer Rory McIlroy and actors Matt Damon, Mel Gibson and Chris Pratt, packed into the arena to see McGregor in action for the first time since that defeat.
The violence that marred the occasion followed a year of bad blood between McGregor and Nurmagomedov. They had trash-talked about each other before McGregor escalated matters in May by throwing a steel dolly through the window of a bus that was carrying Nurmagomedov. After a lengthy delay following yesterday’s fight, the Russian wrestler, from Dagestan, eventually addressed a media conference.
He said: “First of all, I want to say sorry to athletic commission Nevada, to Vegas. I know this is not my best side.” He went on to complain bitterly about McGregor’s behaviour in the lead-up to the fight.
Muslim Nurmagomedov said: “He talked about my religion, he talk about my country, he talk about my father, he come to Brooklyn and he broke bus, he almost killed a couple people.”
He also claimed he was personally congratulated over the phone by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Respected UFC pundit Rogan said he believed the post-fight violence was sparked by a remark made by Danis. And he claimed McGregor made an illegal move in the fight by grabbing his opponent’s gloves. Rogan added: “I think he was in the moment and full of passion. I think Conor will come out the victim here and Khabib is going to have a very difficult time getting a visa.
“The whole thing is extremely unfortunate and a black eye on the sport. “When he went over the top and into the crowd, I couldn’t believe it.” Furious UFC chief White also spoke after the fight. He said: “A lot of bad stuff happened after the fight, a lot that shouldn’t happen.
“Khabib jumped over the cage going after one of Conor’s guys and all hell broke loose. I don’t even know what to say right now. I’m disgusted and sick over it. I’m so disappointed. I’m one of the guys who has worked 18 years to get this sport where it is today.
“It is super personal to me. I have worked so hard for so long. It should have ended with Khabib walking out a champ but it didn’t. It’s bad. “There’s gonna be an investigation by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, there’s gonna be big-money fines and these guys are in big trouble.” Hours after his defeat, ex-lightweight champ McGregor said he wanted another shot. He tweeted: “Looking forward to the rematch.”