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Sputnik reports that men ‘presumably’ from Dagestan surrounded the Ritz Carlton in central Moscow.
At a press conference in Moscow last week former UFC champion Conor McGregor made controversial statements about Dagestan; a Russian republic in the North Caucasus region which is home to UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. According to reports in Russia this has lead to beefed up security around the Irishman.
Russian news agency Sputnik, which is sometimes described as a pro-Russian propaganda network, reported that there was increased security at the Ritz Carlton hotel in central Moscow where McGregor was staying.
That outlet reported that the security increase happened as the hotel became surrounded by a “large group of Russian men, presumably hailing from … Dagestan”. Sputnik further reported that Moscow police took it upon themselves to handle security at the hotel after McGregor’s inflammatory comments.
McGregor’s comments were uttered on Thursday, they included McGregor’s proclamation that he, “wouldn’t go to Dagestan to take a s—t.” McGregor also attempted to drive divisions between people from Dagestan and the neighbouring republic of Chechnya, stating that, “every Chechen man knows” that “it’s in the nature of the Dagestani man to run”.
It’s thought these comments prompted an individual to throw an object at McGregor at a later press event in Moscow. These comments aren’t new for McGregor. Instead they are a rehash of things he had said during the build-up to his submission loss to Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 last October. McGregor has also slung insults at Nurmagomedov over twitter since his defeat.
Recently McGregor announced that he will be returning to the UFC in January for his first fight since the loss to Nurmagomedov. However, McGregor has not stated who he is fighting. The UFC have not confirmed McGregor’s plans.
McGregor’s antics in Russia come weeks after it was reported, by the New York Times, that he was under investigation for a sexual assault that authorities believe might have occurred in Dublin in early October. That outlet reported that a woman in her 20s claimed she was sexually assaulted in a vehicle parked outside of a pub. According to NYT McGregor was not charged or interviewed in relation to this incident.
NYT further reported that this is the second sexual assault investigation involving McGregor. The first relates to an accusation that a woman was sexually assaulted at a hotel in Dublin last December. That outlet reported that McGregor was arrested in January and questioned over this incident. He was then released pending further investigation.
In addition to being named as the subject of a sexual assault investigation by the New York Times McGregor’s October has also featured him going to court over an assault charge. That case stems from an incident at the Marble Arch pub in Dublin in April, where McGregor was captured on video tape appearing to sucker-punch an older man after he refused a drink of McGregor’s own whiskey brand.
If found guilty of assault McGregor could face a fine of approximately $1,650 and a six month prison term.