UFC Featherweight champion Max Holloway has commended both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor for showing respect to him following his withdrawal from UFC 226 earlier this year.
Holloway was rushed to hospital just three days before he was set to defend his Featherweight title against Brian Ortega with a statement from his team revealing that he was suffering concussion-like symptoms including “flashing vision” and “slurred speech”.
Holloway said that he had been placed on a 30-day medical suspension after the incident and that he was awaiting the results of a couple more tests, but that ‘everything was looking good.’
The 26-year-old has since been cleared to fight again and will take on Ortega in the main event of UFC 231 in December, but added that Nurmagomedov and McGregor both reached out to him when he was taken to the emergency room ahead of UFC 226.
Here’s my take on last night. When I was in the ER this summer and docs said not weight cut not concussion and they can’t figure it out, my family crying, Khabib and Conor could’ve stepped on my neck. Instead they both stepped up and showed respect.
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) October 8, 2018
Nurmagomedov was embroiled in a post-fight brawl with McGregor’s Jiu-Jitsu coach Dillon Danis following his fourth-round submission victory over the Dubliner at UFC 229 on Saturday and Holloway added that both men are better leaders and champions than what they portrayed over the weekend.
When I fight my son sits cage side. Children could’ve been smashed. Being champ isn’t about the belt and they both know this. I hope both champs show what it is about before it’s too late. I know they are better leaders of their teams than what fans have been seeing.
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) October 8, 2018
At the UFC 229 post-fight press conference, President Dana White highlighted that Khabib was in serious trouble as a result of the events that occurred after the fight and even went as far as to say that he could be stripped of his belt for his part in the melee.
Depending on how long of a suspension the Nevada State Athletic Commission hand down, the UFC could have no choice but to strip the champion.
“We’ll see the Nevada State Athletic Commission is going to hand down some type of you know fine, suspension or whatever’s going to happen that’s up to them, we’ll see.
“And then, I don’t know
“Listen, if he gets suspended, and it depends on how long his suspension is then yeah he’s probably going to get stripped if it’s a long suspension.”
