Conor McGregor cops medical suspension after Khabib mauling
Conor McGregor has been hit with a one-month medical suspension, with more sanctions potentially to follow as a result of his dramatic loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
McGregor was among the fighters medically suspended following UFC 229: Khabib vs. McGregor, following his mauling at the hands of the Russian at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov continuously put McGregor on his back and pummeled him, until finally forcing him to submit in the fourth round.
The rough bout was enough for the Nevada State Athletic Commission to hand McGregor a one-month medical suspension.
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He was far from the lengthiest of suspensions, however, as several other UFC 229 athletes could potentially be on the sidelines until April 5, 2019.
Chief among those that could be out for six months is Anthony Pettis, who came up short against Tony Ferguson in the UFC 229 co-main event.
He and Ferguson had a bloody, back-and-forth battle, but Pettis’ coach stopped the fight after the second round, believing that Pettis had a broken hand. After the fight, Pettis was diagnosed by an athletic commission doctor as having a nasal fracture.
Nevada commission to file complaints
In the aftermath of the brawl that followed Nurmagomedov’s UFC 229 victory over McGregor, the Nevada State Athletic Commission plans to file complaints against both fighters.
Commission chairman Anthony Marnell told ESPN that the board is investigating the crazy fracas.
Nurmagomedov had his $2 million purse held with a complaint pending, multiple media outlets reported.
McGregor received his $3 million payment, but that was before the NSAC saw video that implicated the Irish star of post-fight wrongdoing as well.
“We will be filing against Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov,” Marnell said.
“Because we withheld one purse, we will have to move expeditiously to a complaint and hearing. We have held 100 percent of one of the fighter’s money. Temporary suspensions will be out shortly, and we’re shooting for a final hearing date in November.”
Following McGregor’s submission in the fourth round with a rear naked choke, Nurmagomedov climbed out of the octagon and soon was in a brawl with members of McGregor’s entourage.
Nurmagomedov (27-0) got McGregor (21-4) to submit in the fourth. The Russian subsequently jumped out of the Octagon and engaged in a physical battle with people in McGregor’s corner. McGregor was also seen trying to punch a member of Nurmagomedov’s entourage who was in the Octagon.
A different person also came into the Octagon and hit McGregor while he wasn’t looking. There were three arrests, UFC president Dana White said, yet no formal charges were made because McGregor decided against pursuing the case.
The NSAC still could sanction those people, Marnell said.
Nurmagomedov issued an apology to the NSAC on Saturday. According to White, the UFC could strip him of his lightweight title depending upon the NSAC’s punishment.
Still, White has said that a rematch between McGregor and Nurmagomedov is a possibility.
With Yahoo Sports US
