Nurmagomedov returns to hero’s welcome, blasts ‘dimwit’ McGregor
‘It took his unbeaten professional record to 27-0 and 11-0 in UFC bouts’
KASPIYSK: Russia’s Khabib Nurmagomedov said he had “shut up that dimwit” Conor McGregor as he lapped up a hero’s welcome on his return to his native Dagestan following the successful defence of his UFC lightweight crown against the Irishman.
“Khabib! Khabib!” a crowd of some 20,000 fans chanted to welcome the unbeaten champion in an arena in the town of Kaspiysk, 14 kilometres from Dagestan’s main city of Makhachkala. Excited by Nurmagomedov’s appearance, hundreds of his compatriots broke through lines of stewards and pushed their way onto the pitch, trying to get as close as possible to the champion.
“Thank you, brothers,” replied Nurmagomedov, who showed off his champion’s belt to the crowd. On Saturday Nurmagomedov defended his Ultimate Fighting Championship world title after putting McGregor in a brutal chokehold and forcing the Irish superstar to ‘tap out’ during a fourth round submission.
It took his unbeaten professional record to 27-0 and 11-0 in UFC bouts. “I’d prayed to the Almighty every day not to have injuries, for it all happen,” Nurmagomedov said.
“I wanted to shut up that dimwit up to prove the difference between our people and his people. “Nobody can break us, our people have a great history,” he boasted. “Hopefully, I’ve justified your expectations.”
Although eventually awarded his championship belt, the Russian is still awaiting confirmation of whether he will receive 1.5 million dollars prize money following a post-fight fracas that saw him jump over the octagon and attack one of McGregor’s training partners, Dillon Danis.
A dramatic free-for-all ensued, with members of Nurmagomedov’s entourage jumping into the octagon to attack McGregor as stunned officials battled to restore order.
It proved a dramatic climax to weeks of media posturing between the bitter rivals, during which the brash Irishman stoked the flames through a series of insults about Nurmagomedov’s family and his Muslim religion.
As security tried to quell the chaos in the crowd, the exhausted McGregor eventually departed in a huddle of security personnel. Nurmagomedov was also hustled out surrounded by security officers as the proMcGregor crowd jeered and threw drinks at him.
UFC chief Dana White refused to hand Nurmagomedov his belt, saying he feared it would further inflame the crowd. “If I put this belt on you, everyone’s going to start throwing shit into the Octagon,” he told Nurmagomedov.
The ring announcer declared Nurmagomedov the winner after both fighters had departed. Nurmagomedov told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin had called to congratulate him. He also criticized McGregor for trash-talking, saying: “This is a respect sport.”
White said that the Nevada Athletic Commission, which oversees combat sports in the state, was withholding Nurmagomedov’s purse pending an investigation. “It’s a big deal,” White said, adding that three members of the Russian’s camp were briefly detained by police.
White said a suspension and “big money fines” could be looming for Nurmagomedov, who might also find himself facing difficulties obtaining a visa to fight in the United States in the future. McGregor was returning to mixed martial arts for the first time since November 2016, having detoured in 2017 to a crosscombat boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather which ended in defeat-but still earned McGregor some $100 million.
His return sparked massive interest, with White predicting the bout would break the UFC record of 1.65 million pay-per-view buys. The crowd included a mass of chanting, flag-waving Irish fans as well as a sprinkling of celebrities including Hollywood stars Matt Damon and Mel Gibson and Northern Ireland golf star Rory McIlroy. — AFP