The much-heralded fight between lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and challenger Conor McGregor may have been the main event of UFC 229, but the mayhem that ensued inside and outside the octagon after Nurmagomedov won was the night’s real highlight.
Almost immediately after Nurmagomedov got Conor McGregor to tap out in the fourth round of their bout, the Russian champion leapt into the crowd in an attempt to assault rival MMA fighter Dillon Davis. Meanwhile, members of Nurmagomedov’s entourage, who had climbed into the octagon after the fight ended, began punching McGregor. Police quickly descended on the scene to break up the chaos and escort the fighters from the arena. Three people from Nurmagomedov’s team were subsequently arrested.
UFC president Dana White gave a tearful address to the public following the chaotic scene. “I’m so disappointed,” he told fans. “The Governor [of Nevada] was here tonight. The Governor went running out of the building. That’s not good. Governor running out of the building isn’t good. [Nurmagomedov]’s in trouble.”
At the brief, post-fight press conference, Nurmagomedov apologized to the state licensing commission and the fans, answered one question, and then abruptly left. He blamed his post-fight attack on the anti-Muslim rhetoric that McGregor and other supporters in his camp had reportedly used leading up to the fight.
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