UFC 229 was hyped as the biggest fight in MMA history, as Conor McGregor would take on lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in the card’s blockbuster main event. Well, as it turns out it did break the UFC’s pay-per-view record, but it may have come at a cost for the two headliners.
Leading up to the fight, McGregor threw a dolly through a bus window at UFC 223. Then, during the pre-fight press conferences, McGregor verbally attacked Nurmagomedov’s family, religion and manager. All this added fuel to the fire and Khabib Nurmagomedov reacted in kind following his fourth-round submission win over Conor McGregor.
Following his win, Nurmagomedov jumped over the Octagon and attacked McGregor’s teammate Dillon Danis. While that was happening, McGregor punched Nurmagomedov’s teammate inside the Octagon, while another punched McGregor from behind. It was pure chaos and the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) was not happy. The commission withheld Nurmagomedov’s $2 million fight purse and tentatively suspended both fighters for 10 days, with longer suspensions expected down the road.
On Wednesday, the NSAC had a hearing to discuss the punishments of both McGregor and Nurmagomedov. The NSAC has decided to indefinitely suspend both McGregor and Nurmagomedov, with another hearing scheduled for December 10.
NSAC chairman Anthony Marnell is obviously not happy with what happened at UFC 229. He said during the meeting that if he knew what he knows now, Conor McGregor’s $3 million purse would have also been withheld.
However, there was some favorable news coming out of the meeting for Khabib Nurmagomedov. The NSAC has decided to give him half of his purse ($1 million) and keep the other half until their next hearing.
NSAC chairman Anthony Marnell recommends the commission release $1 million (half) of Khabib's fight night purse to him at this time. The other $1 million is to be transferred from UFC to NSAC for safekeeping until resolution. A motion is made and passed.
— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) October 24, 2018
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That next hearing, as aforementioned, is scheduled for December 10. The NSAC wants both Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov to attend. The meeting is the final step in deciding what the pair’s punishments will be. It is likely they will decide on the length of suspension for both fighters, and issue possible fines at this hearing.
Khabib and Conor will be required to attend the December commission meeting.
— John Morgan (@MMAjunkieJohn) October 24, 2018
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It is an important date for the UFC because if Nurmagomedov is suspended for a long period of time, there is reason to believe he could be stripped of his title to allow the lightweight division to evolve.
What kind of punishments do you think await Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov on December 10?
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/24/2018.