The chaos that erupted inside T-Mobile Arena following Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s decisive submission victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 229 is still fresh in the minds of MMA fans. What began as a historic victory quickly turned into mayhem as ‘The Eagle’ scaled the cage and dove directly into the Irishman’s corner, flinging himself at Dillon Danis in a fit of raw, uncontrolled anger. However, years later, a revelation by coach Javier Mendez has shed unexpected light on that reckless act, not as a senseless assault, but as a decision motivated by respect, even in the thick of rage.

During a recent interview, Coach Javier Mendez shared a conversation he had with ‘The Eagle’ a few years after the event. He remembered questioning his protégé why, of all people, he decided to target Danis. “He jumped the cage and went after his coaches, and I never asked him, believe it or not, I never asked him why he did that. Till a couple of years later, I said, ‘Khabib, why did you go after the cage? Why did you go after Dillon Dannis?” Mendez wondered. The answer that he got was really unexpected. Khabib Nurmagomedov responded, “Well, coach, because you know his head coach, you know, was too old and it would be disrespectful, so I had to go after Dillon; he was more my age.”

That statement alone changes the narrative surrounding one of the UFC’s most iconic events. “So, I said, ‘Ah, it was respect, even in his anger,'” Mendez explained. Even after months of hostility, personal assaults, and a bus incident that harmed several fighters, the Dagestani had drawn a line. Dillon Danis, the youngest in the corner and the loudest in the buildup, was chosen as the target—not out of recklessness, but as a determined decision to avoid what he thought was dishonorable. Khabib Nurmagomedov, who later admitted he “lost control,” maintained his own code of respect by abstaining from touching an older coach.

This behind-the-scenes look humanizes ‘The Eagle’ while also reinforcing what many have been saying about him for years. Beneath the cold discipline, warrior pride, and commanding Octagon presence is a guy with a profoundly embedded moral compass, shaped by his childhood in Dagestan and polished by his father’s principles. Even in a moment that cost him $500,000 and a suspension, his mindset wasn’t completely clouded by rage. There was logic in the madness, and that might be the most Khabib Nurmagomedov aspect of all. But while ‘The Eagle’ would be glad that no other onlooker was hurt, the chaos surely did leave someone scarred.

UFC ring girl reveals her take on Khabib Nurmagomedov’s “scary” UFC brawl

For all the rationale in Khabib Nurmagomedov’s chaotic moment—his decision to go after someone younger rather than hurt a coach out of respect—the aftermath still left a trail of shockwaves that reverberated far beyond the Octagon. Coach Javier Mendez’s recent disclosure depicted ‘The Eagle’ as someone whose actions, no matter how reckless, were viewed through an honor lens. But for those standing near the cage that night, honor was not the word that came to mind. One such person was UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste, who had been in front and center of several main events but was scared in ways she hadn’t experienced before.

Years later, on Monster Energy’s podcast, Celeste described the chaos at UFC 229 with a single word: “scary.” That night, the usual rules of the fight game didn’t seem to apply. The fight had ended, and the winner had been determined, yet the tension only grew. As Khabib Nurmagomedov hurled himself over the cage, targeting Dillon Danis and sparking a riot in the crowd, even seasoned professionals like Celeste knew what was going on: flight mode. She and her other ring girls dashed to the dressing room, accompanied by security, as adrenaline replaced glamour. In that moment, the Octagon was a danger zone rather than a stage.

Isn’t it revealing? That someone who has spent her entire career inside the Octagon, watching men bleed, yell, and collapse under the lights, should be so deeply shaken, not by what happened inside the cage, but by what flowed outside of it. She said, “Usually, the fighters are pretty good. Male fighters are always pound gloves and then beat the s—- of each other. When it’s over, jobs done, and we’re back, but that one was very personal, and that one got so out of hand.” Celeste’s memories act as a personal contrast to all of the hero-making and mythologizing that occurred that night. Yes, Khabib Nurmagomedov showed discipline even in the midst of crazy, but chaos overlooks nuance, according to some on the sidelines. It just explodes—and leaves everyone sprinting for cover. What do you think of the whole ordeal? Did you watch it live? Let us know in the comments.