NSAC reduces brawl ban for Khabib’s teammates

Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Zubaira Tukhugov — teammates of Khabib Nurmagomedov — had their UFC 229 brawl-related suspensions reduced Wednesday.

Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Bob Bennett confirmed that Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Tukhugov, who were suspended for entering the Octagon and exchanging blows with Conor McGregor after last October’s fight, each had their one-year suspensions dropped by 35 days after a community service agreement was agreed upon at a NSAC meeting in Las Vegas.

The timing of the 35-day reduction request is no coincidence.

The UFC is attempting to strike a deal with Khabib Nurmagomedov to defend his lightweight title against interim champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 242 on Sept. 7 in Abu Dhabi, and he has said publicly that he would not return to the Octagon until his teammates were cleared from their suspensions.

Wednesday’s developments in Las Vegas would allow Khabib Nurmagomedov, whose nine-month suspension will be up in July, to fight at UFC 242 and keep his word.

Bennett said representatives of the fighters reached out to him about getting a reduced suspension, stating that community service had not been offered in the initial adjudication agreement. Bennett called it a “fair and equitable” request, so he brought it to NSAC chairman Anthony Marnell III and the commissioners Wednesday.

Bennett said the 10 hours of community service to be performed by Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Tukhugov must be approved by the NSAC, and that it must be constructive work with youth and could include self-defense and anti-bullying messages.