In a new interview with TMZ just a few days out from UFC 229, Dana White spoke about some of the big talking points from the highly-charged evening, including the latest pay-per-view numbers and how Khabib Nurmagomedov is likely to be punished for his actions.
White appeared to be in a much better mood than he was on Saturday night, largely thanks to getting confirmation that the event was the biggest pay-per-view in UFC history, though it didn’t quite reach the lofty numbers he had been predicting in the days before the show.
“We didn’t do 3 million,” White told TMZ Sports. “But it’s so hard to crack 2 million. Even [Mike] Tyson vs. [Evander] Holyfield was at like 1.995 [million]. Things like that didn’t crack 2 million. We’re way over 2 million, so I’m happy.”
White then went on to address Nurmagomedov’s likely punishment after he jumped the cage and attacked McGregor’s BJJ coach Dillon Danis after his submission victory over the Irishman.
“They took his whole purse [$2 million] right now and they’re talking about keeping his purse – I do not think that that should happen,” White said of NSAC’s investigation into the incident. “You should not be able to keep his whole purse.”
“I think they should take ($250,000) from him,” White continued. “(He) absolutely keeps his title. And he’s going to get suspended, so maybe you give him a four to six months suspension.”
White had previously stated that Nurmagomedov would likely be stripped of his title if NSAC hands down a long suspension.
