Opinion | Khabib meets Putin: Vladimir hopes Nurmagomedov avoids punishment, but UFC and Dana White must put morals over money
Russian president congratulates lightweight champion for Conor McGregor win and urges authorities – and his father – not to punish him too severely
As if this week in mixed martial arts couldn’t have got any weirder, Khabib Nurmagomedov spent his Wednesday hobnobbing with Vladimir Putin as he continues to enjoy his UFC 229 victory lap.
The Russian president congratulated the lightweight champion on the phone after he retained his title in the biggest bout in UFC history against Conor McGregor last Saturday, but it seems a call wasn’t enough.
He met the Dagestani-born Russian on the sidelines of the “Russia – Country of Sports” forum in Ulyanovsk, where he joked around that Khabib’s father and trainer Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov should “not to punish him too severely” for inciting a post-fight brawl at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Abdulmanap had said “discipline comes first” after his son jumped out of the octagon and attacked McGregor’s jiu-jitsu coach Dillon Dannis in the crowd.
McGregor then got into it with Khabib’s team, one of whom climbed into the cage to hit the Irishman from behind, as all hell broke loose.
The fighters were escorted backstage by police, who arrested three of Khabib’s team, though they were later released because McGregor said he would not press charges.
