Savage and bloody are just a few of the words that come to mind when talking professional mixed martial arts (MMA), so it comes as a huge surprise that even in this arena of hypermasculinity, a parent still has the last say.
"I will be very hard on this. I warned him. For me, discipline comes first. You do whatever you want in the Octagon – outside, this is the border of civilians, where there are children, women, strangers," said a disappointed Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov in an interview with Russian media.
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The father and trainer of the UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, was referring to the mayhem that broke out after the much-anticipated fight between his son and Conor McGregor this past Saturday (6 October).
Post-victory, Khabib shocked spectators when he scaled the metal Octagon and proceeded to attack Conor's training partner, Dillon Danis, prompting a full-on brawl among the crowd. Inside the cage, McGregor was attacked by two members of Nurmagomedov's team.
The chaotic scene resulting in multiple arrests and the two opponents being removed from the arena by police escort.
Khabib's actions have stunned the sporting community since, as extreme a sport it may be: an incident like this had not occurred before.
Mike Tyson tweeted:
At a post-fight press conference, Khabib apologised for his part in the controversial incident, explaining that his actions were due to Islamophobic slurs:
"I want to say sorry to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. This is not my best side.
"He talked about my religion, my country, my father. He came to Brooklyn, he broke my bus and nearly killed two people. So why do people still talk about me jumping over the cage? I have shown respect.
"I want to change this game. You cannot talk about religions and nations. This for me is very important. I know my father is gonna smash me when I go home. Nevada: sorry. Vegas: sorry."
Regulatory agency the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) has confirmed Conor's one-month suspension, and pending further investigation, have withheld Nurmagomedov’s $2 million fight purse.
The exact details of how Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov plans on dolling out his punishment remains unknown.
Is your child super competitive in school sports? Tell us by emailing to chatback@parent24.com and we could publish your letter. Do let us know if you'd like to stay anonymous.
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