Celebrity rapper Drake looked terrified in the ringside seats as Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped the octagon fence and charged at “team McGregor” members immediately following his crushing victory at UFC 229 on Oct. 6 in Las Vegas.
As the Russian fighter dove into the crowd in pursuit of McGregor’s jiu-jitsu coach Dillon Danis in an ongoing feud, sparking a violent all-in melee, someone snapped a photo of Drake with an apparent look of fear in his eyes.
Drake had earlier posed for photographs with McGregor and enthusiastically proclaimed his support for “The Notorious,” most recently during the Oct. 5 weigh-ins when he draped an Irish flag over his shoulders.
But photos shared on social media of Drake in the moments after Nurmagomedov charged the crowd, have sparked humorous reactions.
“Run Drake Run ??” commented @scoutcheff on Twitter, posting a compilation of photos of Drake from UFC 229, starting with a headshot of the enthusiastic rapper cheering, but culminating with him appearing nervous and unsettled.
Three of Nurmagomedov’s teammates were arrested following the incident, though McGregor refused to press charges, tweeting instead “Good knock. Looking forward to the rematch.”
“This is absolutely the craziest moment I have seen in all my years calling fights,” declared UFC color commentator Joe Rogan.
It is unclear what comes next for the unvanquished 27-0 Nurmagomedov.
White also revealed Nurmagomedov’s share of the purse—believed to be around $2 million—is being withheld by the Nevada State Athletics Commission, the body that sanctioned the fight.
The Russian fighter could also be stripped of his UFC lightweight title, or even face suspension from the UFC.
Nurmagomedov also issued a brief statement during the press conference.
“First of all, I want to say sorry to Nevada Athletic Commission and second to Vegas. I know this is not my best side. I’m a human being. But I don’t understand how people can talk about how I jump on the cage. He talked about my religion, he talked about my country, he talked about my father,” he said, without answering any questions before leaving.
Fourth-Round Neck Crank Clinches the Win
Nurmagomedov ended McGregor’s attempt to win back the title when he sealed a brutal submission victory with a neck crank in the fourth round.
The fight had been highlighted by bad blood between the camps, with McGregor pleading guilty in July as part of a deal with prosecutors to resolve charges over an April melee in which he attacked a bus the Russian was traveling on.
McGregor, making a comeback to the octagon after nearly two years away, looked dangerous in the early striking exchanges, but as expected, Nurmagomedov quickly took the fight to the ground. During the second round, Nurmagomedov even dropped McGregor with an overhand right hand.
The Russian smothered the Irishman with his grappling skills throughout the fight.
In the fourth round, Nurmagomedov applied a devastating neck crank after securing a dominant position on McGregor’s back, ending the fight at 3:03 after McGregor tapped out.
Nurmagomedov’s victory stretched his professional record to 27-0 and handed the Irishman his second defeat in the UFC.
