A hearing to determine what if any punishment Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov and others will face for their roles in the melee at UFC 229 will move forward without ‘The Notorious.’
Conor McGregor’s day before the NSAC is just going to have to wait. MMA Fighting was first to report that the NSAC (Nevada State Athletic Commission) has granted the former two-division champion a continuance, allowing him to push back a hearing on his behavior following the main event of UFC 229. The fight was marred by controversy after lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov scaled the octagon and flew into the crowd to attack McGregor’s teammate Dillion Danis. Multiple members of Nurmagomedov’s team then entered the octagon, and a melee involving them and McGregor ensued.
In the aftermath, Nurmagomedov’s purse was withheld, and both fighters, after an investigation, were handed provisional suspensions. McGregor (as well as Nurmagomedov) was facing a potential fine and suspension at a hearing before the NSAC on Monday. However, with the continuance, McGregor’s fate will be determined another day.
Thus far, it appears Nurmagomedov’s disciplinary hearing will go forward. As the instigator that night, he’s looking at a considerable fine and suspension, though UFC President Dana White recently suggested that anything more than a one year suspension for the champion would be unfair. However, per MMA Fighting’s initial report, Nurmagomedov is unlikely to appear in Nevada on Monday, and instead, a settlement agreement remains possible. A continuance could also be granted in his case as well, even though it remains on the docket.
Given the high profile of the case and the complexity of the investigation, it’s not surprising to see any of the associated hearings delayed. Video footage from multiple angles, filmed by any number of sources, emerged after the incident, many of which will likely play a factor in the outcome of the investigation, and punishment handed down.
Dillion Danis, Zubaira Tukhugov, and Abubakar Nurmagomedov are also under suspension by the NSAC for their roles in the incident. Tukhugov was initially booked into a fight against Artem Lobov at UFC Moncton in October, but was subsequently pulled from the card.
