UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov made an appearance at the UFC 229 post-fight press conference to issue a statement in regards to his actions after the main event.
Nurmagomedov scored a fourth round submission victory over Conor McGregor from inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Moments later, he jumped out of the Octagon and stormed after Dillon Danis, a teammate of McGregor’s, setting off a melee that resulted in three members of his fight camp being arrested.
The Nevada Athletic Commission is expected to investigate the matter, as UFC president Dana White stated they were holding his fight purse after the bout.
“I want to say sorry to the athletic commission,” Nurmagomedov said. “Sorry to Vegas. I know this is not my best side. This is not my best side. I am a human being.
“I do not understand how people can talk about ‘I jumped from the cage.’ He talked about my religion, he talk about my country, he talk about my father, he come to Brooklyn and he broke bus, he almost killed a couple people. Worry about this. Why people talk about ‘I jump over the cage?’ Why people still talk about this? I don’t understand.
“This is respect sport. This is not trash-talking sport. This is respect. I told you guys I want to change this game. I don’t want people talk shit about, like, opponents, talk shit about his father, religion. You cannot talk about religion, you cannot talk about nation, guys, you cannot talk about this stuff. For me, this is very important.”
Nurmagomedov later posted a picture on his Instagram account:
UFC 229: Khabib vs. McGregor Results
Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Conor McGregor via submission (neck crank) at 3:03 of Round 4 to remain UFC lightweight champion
Tony Ferguson def. Anthony Pettis via TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 2
Dominick Reyes def. Ovince Saint Preux via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Derrick Lewis def. Alexander Volkov via KO (strike) at 4:49 of Round 3
Michelle Waterson def. Felice Herrig via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 30-27)
Jussier Formiga def. Sergio Pettis via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28)
Vicente Luque def. Jalin Turner via KO (strike) at 3:52 of Round 1
Aspen Ladd def. Tonya Evinger via TKO (strikes) at 3:26 of Round 1
Scott Holtzman def. Alan Patrick via KO (elbow) at 3:42 of ROund 3
Yana Kunitskaya def. Lina Lansberg via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Nik Lentz def. Gray Maynard via TKO (head-kick/strikes) at 1:19 of Round 2
Tony Martin def. Ryan LaFlare via KO (head-kick) at 1:00 of Round 3