LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] likely won’t be competing in Las Vegas anytime soon.
Last time Nurmagomedov (28-0 MMA, 12-0 UFC) fought in “Sin City,” he submitted Conor McGregor in October 2018 at UFC 229 and proceeded to jump out of the octagon and attack one of McGregor’s cornerman, Bellator fighter Dillon Danis, which incited a brawl.
The Nevada Athletic Commission temporarily withheld half of Nurmagomedov’s disclosed $2 million purse before fining him $500,000 for setting off the chaotic scene. It’s been almost a year-and-a-half since, but Nurmagomedov still has no interest in competing at T-Mobile Arena.
“I don’t think so,” Nurmagomedov said recently at Dominance MMA media day. “I don’t think so, but who knows? But my opinion if they do something, maybe I can come back.”
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Since UFC 229, Nurmagomedov has fought in the UFC’s return to Abu Dhabi, unifying the lightweight title with a third-round submission over Dustin Poirier at UFC 242.
He remains scheduled to face Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in Brooklyn on April 18, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and is more than happy to compete in the same place he became undisputed lightweight champion.
“(NAC) take almost $1 million from me, and they give me nine months, and right now I’m good with athletic commission, with everybody because I’m fighting in New York,” Nurmagomedov said. “Let’s fight in New York. New York is not bad place, I think.”
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