Mcgregor big match ends in mass brawl
The biggest mixed martial arts event in history ended in a mass brawl between the teams of Irishman Conor Mcgregor and Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Chaos descended after Nurmagomedov had retained his Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight crown through a fourthround submission.
After months of hostilities between the fighters, the champion climbed over the cage and attempted to fight Dillon Danis, one of the Dubliner’s cornermen.
Mcgregor exchanged blows with the Dagestani fighter’s cornerman inside the octagon before two other members of Nurmagomedov’s team went for Mcgregor from behind, landing blows on his head. Mayhem reigned for several minutes at the T-mobile Arena.
Police and security guards were reportedly attacked and three of Nurmagomedov’s team were arrested. UFC chief executive Dana White said they were released less than two hours later after Mcgregor opted not to press charges.
White said the Nevada State Commission, which sanctioned the contest, had withheld 30-year-old Nurmagomedov’s $2 million (£1.52 million) purse, but Mcgregor was to be paid his, pending the commission’s investigation.
The bad blood between the two fighters dates back to an incident in April in New York, when Mcgregor attacked a bus carrying Nurmagomedov. Mcgregor was fined and given community service.
Mcgregor wrote yesterday that he was “looking forward to the rematch”. Nurmagomedov apologised for his conduct, but said that Mcgregor’s previous behaviour had driven him to his retaliation and also claimed Russian president Vladimir Putin had congratulated him on his victory.