Zubaira Tukhugov, UFC Fighter, Speaks Out On “Slapping” Conor McGregor

Zubaira Tukhugov has admitted to his role in the UFC 229 incident that involved Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov this past weekend in Las Vegas.

In a video posted on social media, Tukhugov mentions slapping McGregor “as promised” after all the pre-fight talk involving the former champion and the current titleholder. He was expected to face Artem Lobov, a teammate of McGregor’s later this month.

Karim Zidan, a journalist who has worked for ESPN, Deadspin and other sites, translated part of the message from the now-former UFC fighter.

“I slapped him as promised,” Tukhugov said. “I promised to make him answer for his words and I did.”

Moments after Nurmagomedov scored a submission victory in the fourth round over McGregor, the UFC champion became engaged in a shouting match with Dillon Danis. While Nurmagomedov was in the crowd attacking Danis and other members of McGregor fight team, teammates of Nurmagomedov had stormed the Octagon to attack McGregor.