Conor, Khabib, Jones Meet NSAC on Jan. 29

Three of the UFC’s biggest stars — Conor McGregor, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones — are all scheduled for hearings with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 29.

McGregor and Nurmagomedov are looking at possible long-term suspensions and fines as a result of the aftermath of their UFC 229 title fight back in October. Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor in the fourth round to retain his title before talking trash with his longtime rival. Nurmagomedov eventually jumped out of the Octagon to attack Bellator fighter Dillon Danis, McGregor’s teammate and cornerman.

McGregor was not all innocent in this situation, however, as he climbed the cage and got into it with Abubakar Nurmagomedov, as well as Khabib’s associates, Zubaira Tukhugov and Esedulla Emiragae, the former of whom landed a sucker punch on McGregor. Abubakar Nurmagomedov and Tukhugov also have hearings with the NSAC on Tuesday.

All fighters have been indefinitely suspended since the October event. Any fines would go to the state’s general fund, not the commission.

Jones was scheduled to fight Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of UFC 232, which was held on Dec. 29 and originally set for the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to license Jones without a hearing after trace amounts of a long-term oral Turinabol metabolite were found in Jones’ system multiple times over the last 18 months.

On less than a week’s notice, after Jones was granted a temporary license by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), UFC 232 was moved from Las Vegas to The Forum in Inglewood, California. The CSAC and USADA, the UFC’s drug-testing partner, explain expert words state that Jones’ drug-testing abnormalities are not based on a new ingestion, but rather the same that caused his 15-month suspension retroactive to July 2017, following UFC 214.

Jones was also suspended for one year, retroactive to July 2016, after failing a drug test in the days leading up to UFC 200. Jones is scheduled to defend his light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 235, set for the T-Mobile Arena, against Anthony Smith.

It is unknown if any of the fighters will be present for the NSAC hearings, or if they will have other representation.

Original Story: MMA Fighting