McGregor and Nurmagomedov both suspended

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Both Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov could be eligible to fight as early as April.

On Tuesday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission voted to suspend the two UFC lightweights for the parts they played in a melee that spilled outside of the octagon following their title fight at UFC 229 in October.

Seconds after winning the bout, Nurmagomedov hurled himself out of the cage at McGregor’s teammates, sparking a scrap that involved a couple of the Dagestani’s training partners throwing punches at McGregor inside the octagon.

The NSAC voted unanimously on Tuesday to fine Nurmagomedov US$500,000 and suspend him for nine months, although the suspension is dated retroactively to the Oct. 6 fight night and can be reduced to six months if he participates in an anti-bullying campaign.

McGregor, meanwhile, was suspended six months and fined $50,000.

Later in the meeting, UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones was granted a one-fight license to compete at UFC 235, where he is expected to defend his belt in Las Vegas against Anthony Smith on March 2.

Jones faced licensing issues in Nevada last month after trace amounts of a long-term metabolite of oral Turinabol were found in his body, although the United States Anti-Doping Association said the metabolite was left over from the same substance that caused Jones to be suspended after failing a drug test at UFC 214.

Because of the licensing issues in December, UFC 232 was moved from Nevada to California.

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