Khabib Nurmagomedov Meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin Following Championship Win

Путин поздравил Хабиба Нурмагомедова с победой. Сказал, что попросит его отца сильно не наказывать спортсмена? pic.twitter.com/F1rw3PZXAw

— Кремлевский пул РИА (@Kremlinpool_RIA) October 10, 2018

After he submitted Conor McGregor at UFC 229, Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed that he received a congratulatory call from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Now that “The Eagle” has returned home, he was able to meet with Putin in person. A video posted on Twitter showed the UFC lightweight champion and his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, visiting with Putin.

Путин о прыжке #Хабиба: Россия - это большая семья, которая готова ответить «прыжком» на любую атаку извне pic.twitter.com/nxv0bhFJuC

— Кремлевский пул РИА (@Kremlinpool_RIA) October 10, 2018

“I will ask your father not to punish you too strictly, because you achieved the main task, worthily and convincingly,” Putin told Nurmagomedov (translation courtesy of RT.com).

Nurmagomedov exited the Octagon following his win at UFC 229 to confront McGregor’s cornerman, sparking a post-fight brawl that also saw some of the Dagestani fighter’s teammates enter the Octagon to attack McGregor. After the incident, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov said he would punish his son more harshly than the UFC.

“I will impose a punishment tougher than the UFC’s. I warned him,” he said. “For me, discipline comes first. You do whatever you want in the Octagon, [but] outside — this is the border of civilians, where there are children, women, strangers.”

The Nevada State Athletic Commission will file a formal complaint against both Nurmagomedov and McGregor for the incident. Nurmagomedov’s $2 million purse has been withheld by the NSAC. A final hearing date has been targeted for November.