LAS VEGAS — The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday voted unanimously to issue temporary suspensions to Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov for their roles in a melee at UFC 229.
McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and Nurmagomedov (27-0 MMA, 11-0 UFC) previously were suspended 10 days, the maximum term the NSAC is allowed to suspend fighters pending a hearing. The temporary suspension is a formality while the commission drafts a complaint against a licensee. To date, no complaints have been filed, but a "comprehensive investigation" is ongoing.
McGregor and Nurmagomedov were not present at Wednesday's hearing, though NSAC chairman Anthony Marnell ordered both to be present in December when the commission expects to resolve the case.
Representing the NSAC, Nevada deputy attorney general Caroline Bateman laid out the commission's current case against the fighters, which alleges their actions constitute a "discredit to unarmed combat" and "unsportsmanlike conduct," as well as violating Nevada law.
Specifically, Bateman called Nurmagomedov the "catalyst" for the incident. But she also took note of McGregor's actions immediately afterward. No other alleged participants in the brawl were mentioned in the state's initial remarks. Bateman added NSAC executive director Bob Bennett is still working on the formal complaints against the fighters and will have it done for a hearing in December.
Nurmagomedov, 30, submitted McGregor in the fourth round of the pay-per-view event at the T-Mobile Arena. But his triumph was short lived. He initiated the melee when he jumped over the octagon fence and attacked McGregor teammate Dillon Danis. McGregor, in turn, tried to jump the fence and punched a Nurmagomedov teammate who'd done the same. Several Nurmagomedov teammates then fought with McGregor as Las Vegas police and NSAC inspectors tried to contain the situation.
Nurmagomedov eventually was calmed down by teammates Daniel Cormier and Luke Rockhold. But facing a potentially hostile crowd, UFC President Dana White elected not to formally conclude the fight – when Nurmagomedov would have his belt strapped around his waist — and instead had the champ walked backstage by security. On the way, the caravan was pelted with debris.
The NSAC withheld Nurmagomedov's disclosed $2 million purse from the event but chose to pay McGregor his disclosed $3 million. After McGregor's role in the brawl became clearer, the commission suspended the Irish star, along with the lightweight champ.
Bateman noted the commission has the right to ban the fighters for life and fine them 100 percent of their purses. But Marnell noted that is an unlikely outcome.
White expressed shock and disappointment at those involved in the melee and promised harsh consequences, including the permanent release of Nurmagomedov's teammates under contract. One, Zubaira Tukhugov, was subsequently scratched from a co-headlining fight against McGregor teammate Artem Lobov for Saturday's UFC Fight Night 138. Nurmagomedov threatened to vacate his contract and leave the promotion, but White later downplayed the talk.
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