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LAS VEGAS – Khabib Nurmagomedov apologized, although it was clear that he did not regret much.
Not after defeating Conor McGregor in their highly anticipated fight. Not after jumping off the octagon to settle another point as two of his thugs jumped to give McGregor a few more shots.
And certainly not after receiving a call from Vladimir Putin to congratulate him for his job well done.
Fighting means never having to say that you are sorry, especially if you do it in the UFC. Nothing seems to be forbidden, whether it's a dive off the octagon or an attack with a truck on a bus.
UFC or WWE? The only thing missing Saturday night on the Las Vegas Strip was a script and folding chairs for Nurmagomedov to crush on the heads of his tormentors.
Unfortunately, everything was too predictable. Thus, will also be the punishment for the fight after the fight.
If you do not bet on the fight itself, here is one thing you can bet on: Nevada combat officials will soon meet and fine and suspend the Russian for the scrum that broke out after his victory over McGregor.
There will be severe warnings, promises that it will not happen again. Nurmagomedov could even make a more credible apology.
And then there will be revenge that will make even more millions of dollars for everyone involved.
Oh, and here's another prediction: UFC fans are going to eat everything.
Remember that the biggest battle in UFC history became this one only after McGregor launched a criminal attack on a bus containing Nurmagomedov and others in Brooklyn, before pursuing it with a verbal attack. against the nationality and religion of his opponent.
It's only after the UFC chief, Dana White, has adopted the bus attack and used the video in commercials to sell what he claims to be a number record of pay-per-view movies for fans wanting to see more.
Blame Nurmagomedov for his extracurricular action, yes. People were put in danger when he jumped from the octagon, including the governor of Nevada, who, according to White, was last seen fleeing the arena.
But most of the blame should be blamed directly on White and the new owners of UFC for encouraging – and profiting – both a criminal act and a vulgar speech that should be out of any sport. Even the one who seems to have no standards.
You may remember, White had expressed outrage in Brooklyn in April when McGregor had taken a truck and broke the window of the bus carrying Nurmagomedov and others. The rampage, said White at the time, was "the most disgusting thing in the history of the (UFC)".
But McGregor had no real consequences, apart from a brief stay in prison and a court appearance. Certainly no suspension from the UFC, which badly needs its last star to sell movies and satisfy the investors.
A few months later, White used a video of the incident to promote the fight. And a few days before the fight, he was smiling as McGregor had launched a strange conspiracy theory about the Russian director and the terrorist attacks of September 11, then swore to make a hole in Nurmagomedov's skull.
It was a clown behavior, but it's a sport that rewards clown behavior. And that's why the two fighters are going to make even more money the next time they meet in the cage, which McGregor was calling just hours after his loss.
"Good luck," McGregor tweeted after touching the fourth round. "In the expectation of revenge."
That there is a revenge is a given. And do not be surprised if she is promoted with scrum shots, just as the fight on Saturday night was promoted with McGregor's video going crazy in Brooklyn.
Despite White's assertion, it was a kind of aberration.
"It's not what we do," he said. "It's not like that we're acting."
In fact, that's exactly what UFC does – and to some extent boxing -. Controversy sells fights, and the bigger the controversy, the bigger the fight will be.
So spare us all false indignation. Do not pretend that no one would have seen this coming.
Just keep on selling the next one.
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