McGregor, Nurmagomedov Suspended Indefinitely

Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov have been suspended indefinitely pending the investigation into their UFC 229 brawl.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission met to decide whether the fighters should be allowed to compete in the interim but judged that they are both to remain inactive.

Given the shameful melee in Las Vegas on October 7, the NASC’s ruling comes as no surprise.

Khabib jumped over the cage following his submission victory over McGregor in round four of their lightweight championship bout.

He started a fight with the Irishman’s team-mate Dillon Danis, a scrap that triggered a melee, leading the NSAC to withhold his $2million (£1.5m) fight purse.

The Commission voted to allow the Dagestani wrestler $1m (£776,000) of that money in the meeting on Wednesday.

The other half of the prize money will be withheld until the disciplinary hearing in December.

Both McGregor and Khabib have been asked to attend the hearing in person.

The ‘Notorious’ was awarded his share of the money despite footage emerging of him punching a member of Khabib’s team on the cage.

Two more of the champion’s entourage then attacked McGregor in the cage as the T-Mobile Arena descended temporarily into chaos.

Chairman of the NSAC Anthony Marnell III said: ‘If I would have had the video I now have, I would have also withheld McGregor’s purse.’

The Irishman has since posted a lengthy message on Instagram, accepting that he was beaten fair and square, saying he’ll fight whoever is put in front of him.

Khabib has apologised for his behaviour in the aftermath and is pushing for a lucrative boxing match against Floyd Mayweather, though it still seems a fanciful prospect at this stage.