Khabib Nurmagomedov and Artem Lobov have beef.

Big UFC events are often rife with drama. Press conferences, face offs, and other media obligations often heighten the tension of an approaching fight. However, sometimes a confrontation comes out of left field – and is simply the result of two otherwise unrelated fighters bumping into each-other at a hotel.

Such an incident occurred yesterday between Artem Lobov, who fights in an undercard Featherweight bout at UFC 223 and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who headlines the show competing for the UFC Lightweight belt.

Khabib is from Dagestan, Russia, and Lobov is half Russian. He also happens to be teammate to Khabib’s rival, Conor McGregor. Apparently the two were arguing over comments Lobov made in a skype interview, calling Khabib a pussy. Khabib wanted Lobov to say it to his face, but Lobov denied the comments.

It’s difficult to see, but in the video, Khabib actually slaps Lobov with his collar tie, before Jeff Novitzky breaks up the altercation.

Khabib said “nothing” happened in a later interview.

The UFC Lightweight title will be stripped from McGregor, 29, this Saturday and assumed by the winner of Khabib vs Featherweight champion Max Holloway. There is a strong likely hood that McGregor will attend the event in New York, and this incident may have just sealed the deal. late yesterday he posted a picture of himself in departure:

Should Khabib win, it would mean next is the biggest fight of all time against McGregor, potentially in Russia, and a classic striker vs grappler matchup. Should Holloway win, he will guarantee himself legend status in MMA, take his second belt, and have the chance to defend while holding both – a feat yet unseen.

UFC 223 goes down this Saturday, April 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

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