Shutterstock
Khabib Nurmagomedov is finally getting paid a portion of his purse from UFC 229. Following the pay-per-view event on Saturday, Oct. 6, Nurmagomedov’s $2 million post was withheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission due to his role in a postfight altercation that spilled into the crowd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. On Wednesday, October 24, Anthony Marnell of the NSAC recommended that Nurmagomedov’s purse is released so he can pay his cornermen and training partners for their efforts in preparation for the fight.
A motion was made and passed to release half of his purse. The other half was transferred to the NSAC by the UFC.
“NSAC chairman Anthony Marnell recommends the commission release $1 million (half) of Khabib’s fight night purse to him at this time,” John Morgan of MMAjunkie.com reported. “The other $1 million is to be transferred from UFC to NSAC for safekeeping until resolution. A motion is made and passed.”
In total, it is believed that Nurmagomedov made between $5 and $6 million in total revenue for the fight which includes pay-per-view bonuses. He also claimed he would have withheld McGregor’s purse following the event if he would have seen all of the available footage.
A resolution on any punishment for Nurmagomedov and McGregor will come on Monday, December 10 when the commission will meet again. Both fighters are expected to attend the scheduled commission meeting.
“Circle Monday, Dec. 10, on your calendar. That is the day currently scheduled to host the December commission meeting, save any changes. Khabib and Conor to attend. See you all then at 9 a.m. PT,” Morgan added.
In the meantime, both fighters have had their suspensions extended “through the resolution of the formal disciplinary actions.”
With his win over McGregor, Khabib advanced to 27-0 in his professional career. His 27 consecutive wins gives him the longest winning streak in all of mixed martial arts. Khabib first won the vacant lightweight championship on April 7, 2018 at UFC 223 when he scored a dominant decision win over Al Iaquinta in Brooklyn, New York. He became the first Russian to win a UFC title. The submission victory over McGregor was his first title defense.
