Nurmagomedov's $2M check for UFC 229 was withheld, pending investigation resultsGETTY IMAGES
The Nevada Athletic Commission "plans to file complaints" against both Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov following an "investigation into the postfight melee" at UFC 229 on Saturday, according to Adam Hill of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Nurmagomedov’s $2M check was "withheld by the commission on Saturday night, pending the results of the investigation." McGregor’s $3M share was given to him "after an initial viewing of footage of the chaos, but several new angles have emerged." The commission is "expected to expedite the process mostly because Nurmagomedov’s check is being held." A NAC official said that a formal complaint "could be filed within the next 48 hours," at which time "temporary suspensions were likely to be issued to both fighters for up to 10 days" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/9).
NO BAD PRESS? In DC, Deron Snyder writes there are "two schools of thought about the fracas that ensued following UFC 229." Either the post-match melees "won’t hurt the sport at all," or they "actually will help the sport." Anyone "truly offended by those antics isn’t part of UFC President Dana White’s target audience." The post-match "brouhaha was the perfect tonic for his desired demographic." MMA offers a "unique brand of violence found in no other sport." It is "not 'anything goes,' but it comes a lot closer than boxing" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/9). ESPN's Sarah Spain said, "This is the sport: fighting before, fighting during, fighting after." White can be "outraged all he wants," but everything he does is "reactive." He waits for the "initial outrage to die down, he realizes everyone is talking about his sport and then he doesn't give any meaningful punishment to McGregor, probably won't to Khabib, and we go in a circle." The Athletic's Frank Isola said UFC 229 was "great for the sport" because it is unknown "what is real and what is staged." All the events surrounding the actual fight lead to "one thing: a rematch," which is "exactly what they want. More money" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 10/8). ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said the UFC "shouldn't be embarrassed" by the brawl because "they're going to have this fight again." He added the UFC will sell McGregor "until he loses two more fights in a row" ("PTI," ESPN, 10/8).
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: FS1's Jason Whitlock said the UFC "needs to move away from this" as McGregor has "done all he can do" for the promotion. McGregor is about "being a brand, character, a bunch of other things that don't have anything to do with getting in that octagon and being about that business." FS1's Marcellus Wiley said White "enabled this culture through his promotion." Wiley said before the fight, "all I kept seeing in slow motion was Conor McGregor attacking the bus and throwing the dolly at the bus" ("Speak for Yourself," FS1, 10/8).
