Khabib coach makes passionate case that NAC fines, suspensions were unjust
Javier Mendez: “You’re telling the guy that was bullied two months out by verbally assaulting his family, his religion, and his country that you need to do an anti-bullying slogan? F you!”
AKA founder Javier Mendez appeared recently on the every mighty Submission Radio are vehemently criticized the Nevada Athletic Commission fines and suspension for Khabib Nurmagomedov (9 month suspension reduced to 6 upon completion of an anti-bullying PSA and $500,000), and Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Zubaira Tukhugov (12 month suspension and $25,000 fine) for their roles in the UFC 229 post-fight brawl.
It’s unfortunate Khabib jumped out of the cage and did something he shouldn’t have,” conceded Mendez. “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 him $500,000, which is just effin ridiculous.
“Number one, nobody got hurt, it was contained. 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 a 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 three, 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.
“And then all of a sudden Khabib gets fined only nine months, plus if he does anti-bullying, he gets three months off so he can fight when Conor can fight. Okay, but now you’re telling the guy that was bullied two months out by verbally assaulting his family, his religion and his country that you need to do an anti-bullying slogan? F you! I ain’t doing nothing. And I support that one hundred percent. I ain’t doing nothing for you.
“And then now to make my point one hundred percent clear, they stated they would like to do a thing where they can stop fighters from talking like that, like Conor did. Okay, so you acknowledge that Conor’s talking started this, but then you fine my guy $500,000, you fine his teammates a year and a bigger sum of money compared to what they make, but yet you think you’re doing something right? No, eff them.
“Khabib’s right, one hundred percent right. I stand right behind what he did. I would do it all over myself. Unfortunately for me, like I said, I love gambling, that sucks for me, but I stand by what he said.
The final remark was a reference to the fact that Nurmagomedov will refuse to fight in Nevada going forward.