Khabib Nurmagomedov almost RIPPED highest-payday contract over dispute with Dana White and team

Khabib Nurmagomedov nearly tore his contract because Zubaira Tukhugov was not on his fight card. 

Khabib Nurmagomedov almost RIPPED highest-payday contract over dispute with Dana White and team

Zubaira Tukhugov reveled that Khabib Nurmagomedov almost tore his contract (via Imago/ ESPN India)

Loyalty in UFC, as well as in general, is a highly sought-after trait. No one else does it better than Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team. Nurmagomedov’s teammate, Zubaira Tukhugov, recently shared how Khabib nearly ripped up a massive UFC contract over a dispute involving his teammate. According to Tukhugov, the drama unfolded prior to the blockbuster UFC 242 event in Abu Dhabi back in 2019.

UFC CEO Dana White had allegedly said that Tukhugov would fight on the same card as Khabib Nurmagomedov. Once the card was set up, Tukhugov was not given a fight. The ‘Eagle’ was steadfast and threatened to rip the contract if they didn’t put his teammate on the card. 

The [UFC] also promised to put me on the Abu Dhabi card with Khabib and Islam, but Dana White said they had no room for me on that card. But Khabib was like “ok, I am going to rip this contract up now, I will give my spot on the card to Zubaira.” It was [Khabib’s] first really good pay day, I said ‘please don’t do that!'
Zubaira Tukhugov via Red Corner MMA
YouTube video

Many fighters have talked about Khabib’s loyalty. Tukhugov’s story shows how much the lightweight legend was willing to sacrifice for his comrades. Faced with potentially losing his biggest draw from the card altogether, the UFC budged. They removed undersized fights to squeeze in Tukhugov’s bout that night.

FS Video

Nurmagomedov operates by a different code. A code that supersedes even money and fame when it comes to loyalty. He even retired undefeated, as he had promised his mother that he wouldn’t fight anymore after his father passed. ‘The Eagle’ still remains in retirement despite numerous high offers from the UFC to come back.

Why was Zubaira Tukhugov suspended and fined after UFC 229?

UFC 229 was one of the biggest events in UFC history. The night ended when Khabib Nurmagomedov submitted Conor McGregor, but this wasn’t enough for him. He leaped over the octagon fence, and all hell broke loose. One of Khabib’s crew, Zubaira Tukhugov, ended up paying a hefty price for getting caught in the madness.

Zubaira Tukhugov was fined and suspended after UFC 229
Zubaira Tukhugov was fined and suspended after UFC 229 (via MMA Weekly/ Daily Express)

The Nevada Athletic Commission issued Tukhugov a one-year suspension and a whopping $25,000 fine. Video evidence clearly showed the Dagestani fighter playing a role in the chaos. Khabib stormed toward McGregor’s teammate Dillon Danis, and Tukhugov joined the chaos by throwing a few strikes towards Conor McGregor.

Danis had bad-mouthed all night long and Khabib snatched the opportunity when he saw it. The Athletic Commission’s penalty put Tukhugov’s fighting career in limbo. Even UFC CEO Dana White had infamously declared all parties would be released – though he since walked that back for Tukhugov and Khabib’s other buddy, Abubakar Nurmagomedov.

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