During the post-fight press conference at UFC 229, Khabib Nurmagomedov mentioned that Vladimir Putin had called to offer his congratulations on beating Conor McGregor.
On Wednesday, the two met in person with the Russian president reiterating his congratulations on the Dagestani retaining his UFC lightweight title.
Khabib's father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, was also in attendance. Putin asked Khabib's father to not punish the fighter too harshly for the ridiculous post-fight scenes at the T-Mobile Arena.
Abdulmanap said during the week that his sanctions would be more severe than the UFC's.
"We followed everything that was going on and we felt for you," said Putin.
"I will ask your father not to punish you too much because you reached the main goal, you won honourably and decisively."
Khabib told Putin that he had been antagonised by McGregor in the build-up to the fight and also during it.
I hope as well they will appreciate not only my cage jump but my performance. Now they talk only about my jump bit I performed not bad.
I tried to behave with dignity and in difference to his behaviour and his disrespect to me, MY parents and country. They tried to provoke me during the fight as well.
I hope [the] court [proceedings] about all that will end in our favour.
Putin sympathised with Khabib regarding McGregor's provocation. He also appeared to throw in a little threat towards Russia's enemies.
"I can say one thing about that situation. Everybody understands he did it on purpose. He [Khabib's father] knows it as well. He did it to get in your head and take an advantage of it.
"Inside our country we are all a family. A lot of things here happened as well (Russian and Dagestani relations) and we need to avoid jumping of a cage.
"We are all different inside our country family. Everything happens just you should try to not cross the line.
"But if somebody from outside attacks us, we can jump also and everybody will regret it. Better not come to this point."
You can watch the meeting below.
