Rapper 50 Cent has offered Khabib Nurmagomedov “$2 million cash tonight” in an apparent bid to lure the Dagestani fighter away from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and instead fight for rival mixed martial arts promotion Bellator.
Curtis Jackson, whose stage name is 50 Cent, took to social media on Oct. 12 and called the UFC’s treatment of Nurmagomedov following the brawl after UFC 229 “wrong.” He said he would pay the lightweight champion $2 million if he came on board to Bellator, with which Jackson is affiliated.
“I️ think it’s wrong what the UFC is doing to Khabib, they didn’t do the same thing to McGregor. I’ll pay 2 million cash tonight if he will fight for me at Bellator,” Jackson said.
“I'll deal with [UFC President Dana White] and your contract later,” 50 Cent wrote on Instagram. “The UFC is not the only game in town. Zubaira is welcome also.”
Jackson’s mention of Nurmagomedov’s teammate Zubaira Tukhugov is a reference to Nurmagomedov’s unresolved conflict with the UFC.
The Dagestani fighter defeated McGregor in the fourth round via submission, but the fight didn’t end there. He jumped over the octagon’s fence and attacked a member of McGregor’s team, Dillon Danis, who was in the crowd. Several of Nurmagomedov’s teammates and McGregor then got involved in a brawl inside the octagon.
UFC president Dana White said in a post-fight conference that those who entered the Octagon and attacked McGregor would not fight for the UFC again.
“The guys who jumped in will never fight here again,” he said on Oct. 6. “I’ve been working hard to promote this sport, this is not what a mixed martial arts event is normally like.”
Nurmagomedov later complained of unfair treatment and threatened to jump ship.
“I would like to address UFC,” he wrote on Instagram. “Why didn’t you fire anyone when their team attacked the bus and injured a couple of people? They could have killed someone there; why no one says [sic] anything about insulting my homeland, religion, nation, family?”
“If you decide to fire him, you should know that you’ll lose me, too. We never give up on our brothers in Russia and I will go to the end for my brother. If you still decide to fire him, don’t forget to send me my broken contract, otherwise I’ll break it myself.”
Khabib Responds to 50 Cent’s Offer
“Just send me location,” Nurmagomedov responded in the comments to Jackson’s post. He then invited 50 Cent to Dagestan.“If you wanna see place there real men born I invite you to Dagestan. And when I come to USA I will let you know. Thank you for support, you are real man!” he added.
The famed rapper promptly replied with the following: “I know Khabib is a man of principle, and the disrespect was overwhelming. McGregor is lucky he didn’t ignore him tapping out and keep going. Get the strap.”
Jackson also appeared to accept Nurmagomedov’s to visit his home country: “I’m taking @khabib_nurmagomedov up on his offer and I’m going to see him and his team in Dagestan right after l wrap directing POWER #bellator #lecheminduroi”
On Sunday, 50 Cent posted again on Instagram, calling Nurmagomedov the “real deal” and “the new face of contact sports,” before adding “I mean he’s real and I’m making the deal.”
Nurmagomedov, however, remains under contract with the UFC. It is unclear under what terms, if any, the UFC might consider releasing the unbeaten champion from his contract, or what penalty Nurmagomedov could face for breaking the agreement.
Meanwhile, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is withholding Nurmagomedov’s fight purse of $2 million pending an investigation into the post-fight melee.
The suspensions are due to start Oct. 15, pending a hearing on Oct. 24, during which NSAC officials will consider whether the two fighters will be banned for good.
