Javier Mendez serves as Nurmagomedov’s coach at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) and he calls the fine levied against Nurmagomedov ridiculous.
“Yeah, you know, it’s just an unfortunate thing,” Mendez told Submission Radio (via MMA Fighting). “It’s unfortunate Khabib jumped out of the cage and did something he shouldn’t have, but the fortunate thing is they broke that thing up. Nobody got hurt, 34 seconds, how come you’re sending out such a strong message? The commission there fining by him $500,000, which is just f’n ridiculous.”
Conor McGregor was fined $50,000 and suspended for six months, while Zubaira Tukhugov and Abubakar Nurmagomedov were fined $25,000 each and suspended one year each for their roles in the brawl.
Mendez would go as far as to say that the fine was a slap in the face of the UFC Lightweight Champion.
“Number one, nobody got hurt, it was contained,” Mendez said. “You fine him $500,000? That number was a big giant, huge slap in the face to him. Number two, his cousin jumps on the cage after that goes on and is up on top of the cage going to go over where Khabib is at, Conor is on the cage, takes a shot at him, hits him in the eye. He was blindsided, he blindsided him. Hits him in the eye, now they’re starting to fight. And so now his cousin gets fined one year for getting punched in the face and only fighting back. Okay, so now you’re fining him a year, $25,000 – which is still ridiculous compared how much they’re making. Number two, Zubaira, he’s walking around looking from side to side, looking what’s going on. Conor swings at him cause Conor feels threatened. And I’m not blaming Conor for anything, cause he’s trying to protect his boys too, but then he swings at Zubaira and Zubaira gets fined for a year.”
Nurmagomedov would actually pay $550,000 in fines because the lightweight champion would also cover the $50,000 his teammates were supposed to pay.
