Khabib Nurmagomedov refuses to attend hearing into mass brawl after defeating Conor McGregor at UFC 229
- Conor McGregor was forced to tap out by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229
- After the clash both fighters were embroiled in a mass brawl at T-Mobile Arena
- Khabib and McGregor are expected to face bans and fines for their actions
- But the Russian will not attend the NSAC hearing, insisting: ‘I’m not guilty’
Khabib Nurmagomedov has confirmed he will not attend the hearing into the brawl which marred his victory over Conor McGregor.
The Russian MMA star is expected to face a lengthy ban and a hefty fine having sparked a fight in the moments after he forced McGregor to tap out at UFC 229.
Both fighters are set to be punished when the Nevada State Athletic Commission hold a meeting on December 10 to discuss the unsavoury scenes.
Khabib Nurmagomedov will not attend a hearing into brawl after his win over Conor McGregor
The Russian MMA star forced McGregor to tap out when they clashed at UFC 229 in Las Vegas
Khabib and McGregor are already serving temporary suspensions in Nevada until the commission complete their investigation.
And Khabib is in no mood to admit wrongdoing, telling beIN Sport: ‘The Nevada State Athletic Commission convened because of what happened after the McGregor match.
‘On December 10 they will meet again and call me but I’m not going, I’m not guilty. I started the fight and I finished as a man.
‘They’ll punish the initiator, I won the fight in the rules. After the fight I showed him that what he did before the fight would not be unrequited.’
Khabib started the melee after he scaled the Octagon to attack McGregor’s team-mate Dylan Dannis before McGregor clashed with members of the Russian’s entourage.
Both fighters are set to be punished when the Nevada State Athletic Commission meet
‘I’m not going, I’m not guilty. I started the fight and I finished as a man,’ Khabib has insisted
‘You should know that the Nevada State Athletic Commission made a concerted effort on two independent occasions to speak with both managers of both fighters and tell them, “Listen, we don’t want any problems during the ceremonial weigh-in and at the end of the fight,”‘ NSAC executive director Bob Bennett told MMAjunkie .
‘I specifically spoke with them. We didn’t want to be in a position that we’re in today had they would have managed their fighters in a professional manner. Unfortunately, they didn’t take heed to my comments, and that’s why we’re here today.’
Khabib is still without half of his $2million (£1.55m) fight purse after the authorities withheld the money in the wake of the brawl.
The commission initially held on to the full amount, while McGregor was paid his $3m purse after it appeared that he was only a victim in the trouble.