UFC boss: Nurmagomedov won't be stripped of MMA title

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Unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov will not be stripped of his UFC lightweight title despite his role in a post-match brawl Saturday, UFC president Dana White said in a website posting Tuesday.

The 30-year-old Russian kept his crown with a fourth-round submission victory over Ireland's Conor McGregor in Las Vegas, improving to 27-0 in his professional career and 11-0 in UFC bouts.

Referee Herb Dean stops the fight between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov in the fourth round of their UFC lightweight championship fight during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, October 6, 2018. /VCG Photo

McGregor was issued a 30-day competition suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) after the bout, among several short-term bans for fighters on the card in what is a common move after MMA bouts, with no contact allowed until October 28 before McGregor's ban expires November 6.

Nurmagomedov had barely released his hold after McGregor tapped out when he launched himself over the Octagon fence, apparently targeting McGregor's training partner, Dillon Danis, as security tried to quell the chaos in the crowd.

Dillon Danis (hair dyed white), a couch on Conor McGregor's team, was the target of Khabib Nurmagomedov's attack after Nurmagomedov won the UFC lightweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, October 6, 2018. /VCG Photo

Nurmagomedov was hustled out surrounded by security officers as a pro-McGregor crowd jeered and threw drinks at him.

While UFC president Dana White did not present Nurmagomedov the title belt, fearing arousing the crowd's ire, he told TMZ in video posted on the UFC website that the Russian would not be stripped of the title and any punishment for the melee after UFC 229 would likely come from the NAC not the UFC.

"He absolutely keeps his title," White said. "And he's going to get suspended (by the NAC), so maybe you give him a four-to-six month suspension."

White said the NAC has not given Nurmagomedov his prize money pending an investigation of the situation and could impose a fine for his actions.

Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia is escorted out of the arena after defeating Conor McGregor of Ireland in their UFC lightweight championship fight during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, October 6, 2018. /VCG Photo

"(The NAC) took his whole purse right now and they are talking about keeping his purse. I do not think that that should happen," White said. "You should not be able to keep his whole purse."

White said he thought the NAC should take a 250,000 US dollar fine.

Conor McGregor (R) in conversation with UFC President Dana White (L) following his defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in their UFC lightweight championship fight during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, October 6, 2018. /VCG Photo

White told TMZ pay-per-view record MMA sales numbers above two million buys for the show made him "a little giddy" but he added that Nurmagomedov made the wrong decision to enter the crowd after a heckler from McGregor's camp.

"I don't think there's too many people who don't understand why he did it, but he shouldn't have done it," White said. "He's the world champion. He just beat Conor in front of the entire world. Stand up, get that belt wrapped around you. You won. The guy who's yelling at you means nothing."

Supporters of Russia's Khabib Nurmagomedov, UFC lightweight champion who defeated Conor McGregor of Ireland in the main event of UFC 229, take part in celebrations in Makhachkala, the capital of the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, October 7, 2018. /VCG Photo

White wasn't sure what the future held for Nurmagomedov as far as opponents. McGregor says he wants a rematch but the NAC must rule first on when the undefeated champion can return to the Octagon.

"We have to see how this stuff plays out with Khabib," White said.

Source(s): AFP