ABU DHABI – When the main event ended at UFC 280, the fights weren’t over.
UFC welterweight contender Khamzat Chimaev and middleweight Abubakar Nurmagomedov were separated during Islam Makhachev’s in-cage interview at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
A video captured by MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun shows an army of UFC and venue security restraining an irate Chimaev, who is yelling at an off-camera Nurmagomedov.
While the spark of this specific altercation is not yet clear, Nurmagomedov posted a lengthy message directed at Chimaev in a since-deleted Instagram post in 2021 (h/t RT Sport).
Nurmagomedov took exception to comments made by Chimaev about his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov, and warned him to “be careful.”
Abubaker Nurmagomedov sends a message to khamzat chimaev after his comments about khabib
(translated from Russian) pic.twitter.com/1NV2BQm8oV
— Pablo_Escobar (@JM97_79) May 14, 2021
Neither Chimaev nor Nurmagomedov (who competed and won earlier on the card against Gadzhi Omargadzhiev) commented on the altercation at the time of publication.
Khamzat Chimaev just got into a cageside scuffle after the main event and had to be restrained by security. 😳#UFC280 | Results: https://t.co/ASgbZtcX37 pic.twitter.com/YGQ8Du1ebi
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 22, 2022
During the post-fight news conference, UFC president Dana White responded to Chimaev’s actions by saying, “It happens, especially with him.”
"It happens, especially with him."
Dana White wasn't surprised Khamzat Chimaev was involved in an altercation at #UFC280.
Full video: https://t.co/5NM1J42KFt pic.twitter.com/z4qyvu9JuY
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 22, 2022
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.
