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- Khabib Nurmagomedov nearly jumped on Leonardo DiCaprio at UFC 229, the Russian fighter says the actor once told him.
- Nurmagomedov leaped from the cage toward the entourage of his opponent Conor McGregor after taking victory, inciting a massive brawl.
- In an interview with the Russian channel Match TV, Nurmagomedov said DiCaprio told him he was seated just a few meters away from where Nurmagomedov landed.
- The two met in Paris after watching the PSG soccer club.
- DiCaprio then invited Nurmagomedov for dinner, where the fighter says the actor surprised him by not taking photos with fans.
Leonardo DiCaprio had a close call at UFC 229, the actor apparently told the Russian fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov.
In an interview with the Russian channel Match TV, Nurmagomedov said he and DiCaprio watched the PSG soccer club among a cluster of celebrities in November.
"Honestly, I didn’t recognize them, apart from Leonardo DiCaprio … He’s a big fan [of MMA]," Nurmagomedov told Match TV, according to the state-funded news channel RT.
"He told me, ‘I was sitting 5 meters away [when you jumped the cage at UFC 229], you nearly landed on me!’"
Nurmagomedov’s momentous victory over the Irishman Conor McGregor at UFC 229 was marred by a massive postfight brawl, which erupted after Nurmagomedov leaped out of the cage and into the stands toward his opponent’s entourage.
Read more: Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammate bragged about slapping Conor McGregor in the postfight brawl
Both fighters have since copped fines and fighting suspensions from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for their roles in the melee, though Nurmagomedov was punished more than McGregor.
Nurmagomedov said that after he met DiCaprio in Paris, the actor invited him out for dinner.
"It was interesting for me how he would sit there [amid so many people]," Nurmagomedov said.
"He’s a regular guy, but it was surprising to me, when people came up to him for a photo, he said ‘I don’t take photos.’ I asked why, and he said it’s not possible to make everyone happy.
"He said he only takes photos with kids … with everyone else, it’s not possible. That surprised me, but in general, he’s a regular guy."
Nurmagomedov later captioned an Instagram post with DiCaprio: "He knows about UFC more than me."
In the wide-ranging interview with Match TV, the fighter also spoke about meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he said called him after the fight to congratulate him.
"I was more surprised when called me right after the fight … I was pleasantly surprised," he said.
"It’s nice, you know, when the head of state phones you and praises you for your efforts … Especially when I was sitting in the locker room, surrounded by security staff who were protecting me from 20,000 unhappy fans.
"And at that moment Vladimir Vladimirovich phoned me. It was really nice to hear his speech, how he praised me and said that the country was proud and was waiting to welcome me home."
Nurmagomedov is serving a nine-month fighting suspension that could be reduced to six should he create an anti-bullying public-service announcement.
It’s unclear whom he’ll take on next, though he has expressed interest in fighting the undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.
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Source: Business Insider