Ali Abdelaziz has never been one to bite his tongue.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager has torn into the fine that was handed down to his client on Tuesday for sparking the now-infamous UFC 229 melee.
It’s taken a while but the cases of Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor were finally heard at a Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing on Tuesday, with neither man present.
Nurmagomedov was fined $500,000 for inciting the brawl which involved members of both fighters’ teams and was also suspended for a maximum of nine months, although that suspension will be reduced subject to Nurmagomedov’s taking part in an anti-bullying PSA.
McGregor, meanwhile, was fined $50,000 for exchanging blows with one of Nurmagomedov’s teammates on top of the Octagon and was suspended for six months.
BREAKING ⬇️ https://t.co/s9rKn1iBMK
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 29, 2019
In all likelihood, both McGregor and Nurmagomedov will be suspended for six months, freeing them both up to fight as soon as April 6 because all bans are retroactive to the date of the offences.
But the disparity in the fines has not sat well with Abdelaziz, who has represented ‘The Eagle’ for years.
“I don’t think it’s fair,” Abdelaziz told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani. “Khabib gets $500k and Conor gets $50k? I think it’s bullshit.”
Just spoke to Khabib’s manager @AliAbdelaziz00.
On the fine difference:
"I don't think it's fair. Khabib gets $500k and Conor gets $50k? I think it's bullshit."
On the length of the suspensions:
"That's fair. They'll both get six months. But for his teammates, it's too much."
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) January 29, 2019
Nurmagomedov’s two teammates who were also involved in the melee on October 6 – Zubaira Tukhugov and Abubakar Nurmagomedov – were each fined $25,000 and suspended for a year.
According to Abdelaziz, Nurmagomedov intends to pay for both of his teammates’ fines and when you combine that with his own fine and significant lawyer fees, the UFC lightweight champion will have to part ways with a grand total of $750,000 for an altercation that was so easily avoidable.
