Will Khabib Quit the UFC after McGregor Brawl?
By Sascha Paruk in Mixed Martial Arts News
Updated: March 26, 2020 at 1:51 pm EDTPublished:
- The UFC has cancelled the upcoming fight between Zubaira Tukhugov and Artem Lobov.
- Tukhugov, a teammate of Khabib Nurmagomedov, allegedly took part in the brawls that followed UFC 229.
- Nurmagomedov is threatening to quit the UFC if Dana White “fires” Tukhugov.
Unfortunately for the UFC, the biggest headlines arising from Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor at UFC 229 centered on the post-fight brawls, captured on video by professional cameramen and amateurs alike …
This angle from @RamGilboa shows the madness a bit better. #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/SkQMVdz09w
— FloCombat (@FloCombat) October 7, 2018
Sanctions, suspensions, and repercussions of all manner are sure to follow. One of the first moves by UFC president Dana White was to cancel the upcoming fight between Zubaira Tukhugov and Artem Lobov, scheduled for UFC Fight Night 138 on Oct. 27th.
The cancellation is largely viewed as a punishment for Tukhugov, one of Khabib’s teammates, who can be seen hopping into the ring and throwing punches at McGregor.
That decision infuriated Khabib and he has threatened to quit if the UFC “fires” Tukhugov, posting the following on Instagram …
As usual, online betting sites are getting in on the biggest news of the day. Some sportsbooks have posted a prop bet on Khabib quitting the UFC in 2018, with the stipulation that he must quit via Instagram or Twitter.
| Will Khabib Nurmagomedov quit the UFC in 2018? | Odds |
|---|---|
| NO | -1000 |
| YES | +500 |
Dana White hasn’t commented on Tukhugov, individually, but has said that the people who hopped into the ring after Khabib/McGregor will never fight in the UFC again. That clearly includes Tukhugov, and the UFC’s decision to cancel his fight with Lobov is consistent with White’s statements.
Brotherhood, nationality, and straight-up pride have always been the major driving forces in Nurmagomedov’s life. If the UFC doesn’t show any signs of budging on Tukhugov, there is a legitimate possibility that he gives up his belt and quits the promotion.
Keep an eye on White in the coming days. If he seems to be doubling-down on his post-fight threats, there could be value on the YES side of this bet, especially since Khabib only has to quit via social media. That’s the type of “quitting” you can always take back.
Managing Editor
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
