New York Mayor Announces NYPD Investigation, Accountability for Fighters Involved in UFC 322 Melee

"Those involved in the UFC 322 brawl earlier this month, including Dillon Danis, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, and "John Pork" (Magomed Zaynukov), are not off the hook just yet. Nurmagomedov and Zaynukov were among a small army of fighters who opted to jump Danis at the event at Madison Square Garden on November 15. The incident transpired years after Khabib Nurmagomedov attacked Danis follwing his UFC 229 main event, and came about as a result of trash talk the American had participated in online."

"While UFC President and CEO Dana White opted not to press charges, New York City mayor Eric Adams is not so permissive. On Monday, Adams announced that the NYPD was investigating the incident, and promised that those involved would be held accountable. "These assaults at Madison Square Garden are completely unacceptable. The NYPD is already conducting a full investigation, and everyone responsible will be held accountable," Adams wrote in a brief statement accompanying video footage of the melee."

"Following UFC 322, White announced that Danis would be permanently banned from all of the promotion's events. No punishment for Nurmagomedov, a former UFC athlete and member of Islam Makhachev's entourage, nor Zaynukov, was announced. Makhachev, a close friend, training partner and now student of Khabib Nurmagomedov, won the UFC's welterweight championship later in the night, defeating Jack Della Maddalena in a lopsided decision to do so."

Fighters including Dillon Danis, Abubakar Nurmagomedov, and Magomed Zaynukov participated in a brawl at Madison Square Garden on November 15 during UFC 322. Nurmagomedov and Zaynukov joined a group of fighters who jumped Danis after online trash talk and years after Khabib Nurmagomedov attacked Danis following UFC 229. UFC President Dana White declined to press criminal charges but announced a permanent ban on Danis from promotion events. New York City mayor Eric Adams stated that the NYPD is conducting a full investigation and promised accountability for those responsible. Islam Makhachev later won the welterweight title that night.

Read at Cageside Press