PAKhabib Nurmagomedov wasn’t handed his UFC Lightweight belt in front of the crowd after his fight with Conor McGregor, and now the Russian fighter has jokingly threatened Dana White for the delay.
Nurmagomedov beat McGregor on Saturday (October 6) to take his record to 27 professional fights undefeated, but immediately after the UFC 229 headline the winner hit out with some bad sportsmanship.
The lightweight jumped out of the cage to attack McGregor’s teammate Dillon Danis, getting caught up in a brawl before returning to the Octagon to receive his belt.
At the time, UFC chief White refused to hand over the belt as the crowd protested Nurmagomedov’s actions, with some people throwing things at the Russian as he left the arena.
PA White told the fighter:
If I put this belt on you here, people are gonna lose their s*** and start throwing stuff into the Octagon. Someone else is gonna get hurt.
He later added:
I knew that was going to happen. I knew if we put the belt on him in the Octagon they’d be throwing whatever into the Octagon.
According to the Independent, Nurmagomedov later apologised for his actions, saying:
I want to say sorry to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. This is not my best side.
He talked about my religion, my country, my father. He came to Brooklyn, he broke my bus and nearly killed two people. So why do people still talk about me jumping over the cage? I have shown respect.
I told you guys: his whole team and him, they are tap machines. Today he tapped. Undisputed and undefeated.
This is a respectful sport. This is not a trash-talking sport. I want to change this game. You cannot talk about religions and nations. This for me is very important. Thank you for waiting for me. I know my father is gonna smash me when I go home. Nevada: sorry. Vegas: sorry.
GettyThe champion was awarded his belt backstage before heading off home, but it now seems he made another stop before leaving Vegas.
Nurmagomedov shared a picture on Instagram in which he posed next to a car which he claims to be White’s. He captioned the photo with something which could be read either as a joke or a threat, but White’s took it in good humour.
The champion wrote:
@danawhite you lucky that you give my belt, or I would smash your car, I know your parking location.
White commented:
LMFAO!!!!! I’m telling your father
Khabib had previously commented his father would be confronting him over his post-fight antics.
It’s not yet clear whether Nurmagomedov will be suspended for the brawl. If he is, his UFC lightweight title could be taken from him.
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.