If you’re in trouble with your dad, who are you going to call? Why not the president!
That is what UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was able to do on Wednesday as he met with Russian president Vladimir Putin following his victory over Conor McGregor in Las Vegas.
Russian state television RT reported that the meeting between Putin and Nurmagomedov took place outside a sports forum in Ulyanovsk, a city about 700km east of Moscow.
Nurmagomedov’s father Abdulmanap was unhappy about the post-fight chaos that saw members of Khabib’s camp jump into the octagon and punch McGregor, which spilled over into the crowd.
Three of those members were arrested, but later released as McGregor opted not to press charges.
“You can do whatever you want in the octagon; outside of it, there’s children, women, random people,” Abdulmanap – who is still his son’s trainer, but was denied a visa by US authorities to attend the McGregor fight – was reported as saying.
“My team has always been known for its discipline. Hence, my sanctions to Khabib will be much stronger than the ones from UFC.”
But Putin, who shared tea and other baked goods with Khabib and Abdulmanap, said in response to the “sanctions” awaiting the 30-year-old fighter: “I will ask your father not to punish you too strictly, because you achieved the main task, worthily and convincingly.
“Anyone could have jumped (out of the octagon) in the same way. If we are attacked from the outside, not only you, we could all jump in such a way... there could be hell to pay… It’s better not to reach that stage.”
#Putin meets and congratulates #KhabibNurmagomedov on #UFC229 win over #ConorMcGregor https://t.co/GVe5meQroN pic.twitter.com/Xy3wTM3vhP
— RT (@RT_com) October 10, 2018
Nurmagomedov described McGregor as a “dimwit” as he returned to a rapturous welcome in his home city of Makhachkala in the Republic of Dagestan, which is a federal subject of Russia, on Tuesday.
He took to Instagram on Wednesday to show off the title belt that UFC president Dana White refused to present him with in the ring following the brawl.
But Nurmagomedov has yet to receive his $2 million payout from the fight, as the investigation continues into the post-fight incident.
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A post shared by Khabib Nurmagomedov(@khabib_nurmagomedov) on Oct 9, 2018 at 1:02pm PDT
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