UFC referee Herb Dean shares unique POV of infamous Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov brawl
Veteran UFC referee Herb Dean recently shared a surprising anecdote about the infamous post-fight brawl that erupted after Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor at UFC 229.
The incident itself was a chaotic moment in UFC history, but Dean’s story highlights the professionalism Nurmagomedov displayed towards officials even amidst the mayhem.
During a recent appearance on The Casuals MMA podcast, Dean described the struggle to maintain control after Nurmagomedov hopped over the octagon fence to confront McGregor’s team. Despite the intense emotions, Dean revealed:
"The funny part about it is that even though that whole brawl was chaos, all those guys [Khabib and his team] were extra respectful of the officials."
Check out Herb Dean's comment below (30:33):
What ignited the UFC 229 brawl between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov?
The infamous brawl between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov's teams at UFC 229 wasn't a sudden outburst. It was the culmination of a bitter rivalry fueled by months of escalating tensions.
The animosity began in 2016 with Nurmagomedov calling McGregor a "chicken." This seemingly innocuous taunt spiraled in 2018 when McGregor's teammate, Artem Lobov, publicly criticized Nurmagomedov. In retaliation, Nurmagomedov's team cornered and humiliated Lobov during UFC 223 fight week.
Check out the clip below:
The situation reached a boiling point when McGregor and his entourage attacked the bus carrying Nurmagomedov after the UFC 223 media event. The attack, which involved throwing guard rails and a hand dolly at the bus and shattering windows, became a major news story.
Check out Conor McGregor's bus attack clip below:
By the time McGregor and Nurmagomedov finally met in the Octagon at UFC 229, the bad blood was at an all-time high. McGregor's pre-fight trash talk, targeting Nurmagomedov's religion, family, and country, further inflamed tensions. Nurmagomedov's post-fight jump over the cage to attack McGregor's team was a consequence of this long-simmering feud.