Khamzat Chimaev had to be restrained by security following the main event of UFC 280 after shoving with Khabib Nurmagomedov 's cousin in the face.
Top welterweight contender Chimaev was cageside for the pay-per-view event at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, watching on as Islam Makhachev submitted Charles Oliveira in the main event to win the vacant lightweight title. Whilst Makhachev was having the belt wrapped around his waist by UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov following his win, an altercation was breaking out at cageside involving Chimaev and Abubakar Nurmagomedov.
Chimaev was sitting amongst the UFC brass having been invited by Abu Dhabi to attend the fights. It is what sparked the altercation between Chimaev and Nurmagomedov with footage showing the pair seemingly enjoying an amicable conversation before Chimaev shoved his fellow fighter. Nurmagomedov then lunged at his rival before security intervened. Another video showed Chimaev throwing punches as the melee broke out.
UFC president Dana White later said: "The guy... what do I even say about that? It happens... especially with him," White said. "He was sitting on our side. I didn't even know Khamzat was coming tonight, he was invited by Abu Dhabi. The seats behind me are owned by Abu Dhabi."
Nurmagomedov had fought earlier on at UFC 280, earning a unanimous decision against Gadzhi Omargadzhiev on the prelims of the event. Chimaev is no stranger to a scuffle as he was also separated by security last month after clashing with Kevin Holland backstage at UFC 279. The pair eventually went on to fight each other at the event after Chimaev missed weight for his fight with Nate Diaz, with the Chechen going on to submit Holland in under two minutes.
Nurmagomedov was critical of Chimaev missing weight at the event and suggested it could because the welterweight star doesn't have enough Muslims around him. “If you are a Muslim, you should have good people around you," he said. "Muslims who can say ‘hey, don’t do this.' I followed what was happening with his weight and looked at his team. There are no Muslims around him and this is very bad."
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White played down the altercation by adding: "This is a rough business, mean things are said and sometimes guys get into it. It's our job here at the UFC to make sure things don't happen. We weren't right on it on stop it happening but these things happen. We have 800 alpha men and women under contract and sometimes they cross paths at events and these things happen. It doesn't bother me or hurt my feelings; we handle it and we move on."
