UFC fighter Dennis Buzukja’s temporary suspension has been extended by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) following his involvement in an altercation with a fan at UFC 310 this past December. The suspension, initially imposed on January 7, will remain in place pending a full disciplinary hearing, which is expected to take place in February.
The incident occurred after Buzukja, who was cornering UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling during his fight against Movsar Evloev, got into a physical confrontation with a fan. Several videos surfaced from UFC 310 showing Merab Dvalishvili, Sterling’s teammate, in a heated exchange with the same fan. The fan allegedly grabbed Dvalishvili’s arm and shouted at him as he made his way back to the locker room.

Buzukja, in an attempt to defuse the situation, approached the fan, but things quickly escalated. The fan allegedly struck Buzukja first with a left hook, prompting the fighter to retaliate. Security intervened shortly after, preventing further violence. Buzukja later reflected on the altercation, admitting that part of him considered going further into the altercation, but ultimately, he was glad it didn’t escalate further.
This incident at UFC 310 has raised concerns, especially in light of previous penalties imposed by the NAC. For example, Arman Tsarukyan received a nine-month suspension and a $25,000 fine following a similar fan altercation at UFC 300. As the commission considers Buzukja’s actions, it remains to be seen whether he will face a similar or even harsher penalty for his role in the altercation.
Buzukja will have to wait until February to learn his fate as the NAC continues to investigate the incident.
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