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News, Blog and GuidesAli Abdelaziz apologised for the ugly scenes after Khabib Nurmagomedov’s win, but suggested Conor McGregor’s comments had led to the melee.
Stats PerformUpdate: Oct 8th, 2018 08:06 EDT
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Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz has suggested Conor McGregor’s pre-fight insults were behind the Russian’s decision to climb out of the octagon and instigate a mass brawl following UFC 229 on Saturday.
Nurmagomedov successfully defended his lightweight title by getting McGregor to submit in the fourth round with a rear-naked choke, yet the fight was overshadowed by the madness that immediately followed.
Having made McGregor tap out, Nurmagomedov turned his attention outside the octagon and then leapt out of the cage towards the Irishman’s stable-mate Dillon Danis, which ignited a melee.
Meanwhile, McGregor was involved in a separate skirmish with others who had jumped into the octagon before the situations were eventually diffused as the fighters were escorted from the arena.
Abdelaziz, who McGregor had called a “terrorist” in the build up to Saturday, suggested his fighter had been provoked by the comments the Irishman had made prior to them meeting in the octagon.
McGregor had called Nurmagomedov, who does not drink alcohol due to his Muslim beliefs, “backwards” because he would not share his Proper Twelve whiskey with him, had branded his father a “quivering coward” and spoke negatively about his home of Dagestan.
Back in April, McGregor was part of a group that attacked a bus as they sought out Nurmagomedov ahead of UFC 223.
In an Instagram post, Abdelaziz wrote: “I want to congratulate my brother Khabib Nurmagomedov. The undisputed, undefeated pound for pound king.
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