Conor McGregor: Dana White clashes with TV presenter over UFC 229 brawl, defends promotion
UFC president Dana White got involved in a heated on-air clash with a tv presenter yesterday when discussing the ugly brawl which marred UFC 229.
Dana White: Khabib has made a really BAD decision
Moments after submitting Conor McGregor in the main event of the promotion’s tenth pay-per-view of the card of the year, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov sparked a mass melee by leaping over the cage and attempting to dropkick his opponent’s team-mate Dillon Danis.
That act sparked scuffles inside and outside of the cage, the former of which saw McGregor attempt to punch Abubakar Nurmagomedov before clashing with Zuabaira Tukhugov and getting sucker punched in the back of the head by Nurmagomedov’s associate Esed Emiragaev.
The UFC brass have yet to punish Nurmagomedov and McGregor for their respective parts in the ruckus, though the Nevada State Athletic Commission have temporarily suspended the pair.
During an interview on The Project, in which he was promoting UFC 234 in Australia, White was asked by Waleed Aly about the lack of sanctions for the duo and even claimed the UFC love ‘this stuff and it’s great for promotions.’
White didn’t take too kindly to Aly’s assertion and passionately defended the UFC’s decision not to reprimand Nurmagomedov and McGregor for the time being.
“We have a hearing in front of the Nevada Athletic State Commission coming up in December,” White said
“They will lay down fines, suspensions and whatever else they're gonna do. and they're coming after me too for the promotion of the fight.
“It's really not good for business when things like that happen, we don't need that type of stuff to sell a fight.”
What am I going to do? Suspend them for another year? It doesn't make sense
Aly didn’t let up there, shouting at White: “But you don’t suspend them!”
White maintained his composure, saying: “He (Conor) couldn't fight because he was in jail!”
He added: “What am I going to do? Suspend them for another year? It doesn't make sense!”
Nurmagomedov and McGregor are both due to appear before the NSAC on December 10.
But they’ll avoid having to attend the hearing if they reach settlements with the commission.
“If they do not reach a settlement with the Attorney General, then they will have to be here,” NSAC chairman Marnell III told MMA Junkie. “We will not hear the case over the phone.
“If they reach a settlement with the Attorney General, then it would be past practice for us to waive that appearance.”
Fellow brawl participants Tukhugov and Abubakar and Danis were also suspended for their actions and had those temporary bans extended by the commission on Wednesday evening.