UNSEEN footage of Conor McGregor PUNCHING Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team-mate stunned fans when it surfaced nearly two years ago.
Unbeaten Russian Nurmagomedov, 34, beat arch-nemesis McGregor by submission in round four of their lightweight title fight in October 2018.
But the bad blood from the pre-fight build up spilled over after the fight as a melee between the two fighter's entourages broke out inside and outside the cage.
Nurmagomedov hopped from the octagon and attacked McGregor’s training team and brawled with fighter Dillon Danis.
McGregor meanwhile swung a punch at Nurmagomedov’s team-mate and featherweight contender Zubaira Tukhugov before being ambushed by two others from behind.
Footage emerged of The Notorious landing a hook to Tukhugov and appearing to shake the Russian’s legs.
The aftermath of the brawl caused McGregor to receive a six-month suspension and £38,000 fine by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Lightweight king Nurmagomedov, the first to start the melee, received a harsher penalty having had to serve nine months out and docked £380,000.
Abubakar Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s cousin, was also handed a one-year ban and fined £25,000 for his part in attacking McGregor from behind.
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Tukhugov was fined £19,000 fine and given the same ban – but both the pair had their suspensions reduced by 35 days after a community service agreement was approved at a NSAC meeting in Vegas.
McGregor’s sparring partner Danis was unable to corner McGregor for the Irishman’s win against Donald Cerrone in January 2020 due to the brawl.
Danis owed the NSAC £5,773 for his part in the melee, but failed to stump up the cash meaning he did not join the cornering team at UFC 246.
McGregor lobbied for a rematch with Khabib, but the unbeaten lightweight legend retired in 2020 due to the death of his father and mentor Abdulmanap.
The former two-weight champion instead returned for a trilogy against Dustin Poirier but was KO'd in the first encounter and then broke his leg at UFC 264.
McGregor is now back on the comeback trail and recently showed off his buff new body transformation.
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