Dana White says men arrested, purse withheld over UFC 229 attack
Dana White says that three men who were part of the UFC 229 post-fight brawl have been arrested and are facing discipline. The UFC president also says that disciplinary measures are coming for Khabib Nurmagomedov following his actions after his win over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Nurmagomedov defeated McGregor via 4th-round submission with a choke that got the Irishman to tap out. After his win, Khabib directed his attention towards McGregor’s team. He threw a mouthpiece at them and then climbed out of the cage to attack them. While Khabib was out of the cage, two members of his team attacked McGregor, with one climbing into the cage and sucker punching the fighter.
White says the men have been arrested and could be facing charges that might even threaten future visas.
“Three guys have been arrested,” White said in a postfight interview with FS1. “There are going to be charges filed against them, I’m sure. God knows what the Nevada State Athletic Commission is going to do to Khabib and his guys. Are these guys ever going to get a visa again to get back into this country? There’s a lot of repercussions from what they did tonight, ones that I don’t think they even realize yet.”
White disclosed to the media that the Nevada State Athletic Commission is withholding the fight purse for Khabib.
“We’re turning over film to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. This is a big deal. Could be a suspension for Khabib. Big fines — that’s why they’re holding the purses. It’s a big deal,” White said in an interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.
White said that Conor’s team instigated the drama, but called Khabib’s actions “ridiculous.”
“Conor’s cornerman got this thing going. Khabib diving over was ridiculous.”
The purses are the guaranteed earnings the fighters were scheduled to receive for participating in the event. McGregor’s purse was $3 million, while Nurmagomedov’s was $2 million. White clarified that only Nurmagomedov’s purse was being withheld, while McGregor was paid out. McGregor also stands to profit off the fight’s pay-per-view sales.