Morning Report: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager says star’s ‘done’ with Las Vegas, targeting November return at MSG

MMAfighting.com

On Tuesday, the NAC finally handed out its punishments over the brawl at UFC 229, and while it could have been worse for the Khabib Nurmagomedov, he still didn’t get off easy. The UFC lightweight champion was fined $500,000 for his role in inciting the riot, and also received a nine-month suspension, retroactive to the date of the incident. That suspension can also be reduced by three months pending Nurmagomedov’s participation in an anti-bullying public service announcement that must be approved by the NAC, which means Nurmagomedov could be eligible to return to competition as early as April.

Except, he says he won’t.

While Nurmagomedov only got nine months, his teammates, Zubaira Tukhugov and Abubakar Nurmagomedov, were given one-year suspensions and Tuesday, Nurmagomedov’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, said that the lightweight champion is now through with fighting in Nevada and won’t return to competition until November when the suspensions for his teammates are over.

“He’s done with Vegas for giving his brothers such harsh punishment,” Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN. “He loves MSG [Madison Square Garden]. Lots of his fans live around there, and New York has always been good to him. He misses fighting in New York.”

Since the legalization of MMA in New York, the UFC has held a card in Madison Square Garden in November of every year. Nurmagomedov was even part of the UFC’s debut at MSG, submitting Michael Johnson and sowing the seeds for a fight with Conor McGregor. If Nurmagomedov is serious about sitting out in solidarity with his teammates, a return at Madison Square Garden would make sense for him.

Unfortunately, what makes sense for him may not fit with the UFC’s plans for the lightweight division. Should Khabib stay in self-imposed exile until November, that means the UFC lightweight division, already backlogged with contenders, would be sitting on hold for a year and at least one of those contenders is already unhappy about the possibility.

The Diamond✔@DustinPoirier

It’s gotta be Tony or Conor or we redo my contract. Otherwise I’m not fighting. This company is #1 bullshit6,306 12:10 PM – Jan 30, 2019 · Coconut Creek, FL Twitter Ads info and privacy 1,204 people are talking about this

The Diamond✔@DustinPoirier

At this point if you dont respect the body of work I put in. I don’t respect you.1,515 12:12 PM – Jan 30, 2019 · Coconut Creek, FL Twitter Ads info and privacy 205 people are talking about this

With McGregor seemingly on a collision course with Donald Cerrone – after which he could jump the line for a title shot considering a rematch between him and Nurmagomedov is the biggest fight the UFC can make at this point – Dustin Poirier and Tony Ferguson are once again left in limbo. But, for the time being, Nurmagomedov seems unconcerned and summed up the entire situation cleanly.