Vladimir Putin joked that he would not punish Khabib Nurmagomedov for his actions after submitting UFC rival Conor McGregor in 2018.
Nurmagomedov sparked a post-fight brawl after he jumped over the octagon wall to dive at McGregor's teammate Dillon Danis at UFC 229. Several punches were thrown whilst McGregor was also blindsided by two of Nurmagomedov's teammates in the octagon.
The Russian was handed a nine-month suspension and fined $500,000 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission whilst McGregor received a lesser punishment with a six-month ban and a $50,000 fine. Nurmagomedov vowed to never fight again in Las Vegas after the sanction.
Alongside his late father, Nurmagomedov met with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly after his win against McGregor. Putin joked that he would ask his father and coach Abdulmanap not to punish him for his post-fight actions after the decisive win against his rival.
"Yes, of course you did not represent a team you were on your own. You did not perform for your country, but you performed for yourself. You are a Russian citizen and we are not indifferent to our citizens, no matter where they are or what we do," Putin said.
"This is why we were witnessing attentively, I will ask your father not to punish you very cruelly because you accomplished the main aim, you won with dignity and [it was] convincing. I believe that all of us in our country are one big family.
"No matter what happens, we need to try and avoid rashness like charging someone, regardless of what is going on. Anything can happen in the family, but we never allow ourselves to cross the line.
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"Of course if we are attacked from the outside, not only you, we could all jump in such a way and there could be hell to pay. But it's better to avoid such course of action."
To which Nurmagomedov replied: "For now they are only talking about my jump even though I performed quite well. In comparison with his behaviour, his disrespect towards me, my parents, my country, I behaved with dignity. Of course I have not controlled myself in some moments because they were provocations even during the fight.
Nurmagomedov retired from fighting last year after promising his mother he wouldn't fight again following the death of his father. UFC boss Dana White tried his best to keep Nurmagomedov in the UFC and make a rematch with McGregor, but the Russian stuck true to his promise.
