The Russian President said “anyone would have acted” in the same way as Nurmagomedov, as McGregor’s friend Dillon Danis had provoked the athlete by insulting him.
At a meeting yesterday, Putin congratulated Nurmagomedov on his “worthy and convincing” win over McGregor on Saturday.
The meeting took places on the sidelines of the ‘Russia – Country of Sports’ forum in Ulyanovsk.
Discussing the chaos the ensued as soon as the Russian tapped out McGregor, Putin defended his actions as understandable.
Putin told the boxer and his father: “If we are attacked from the outside, not only you, we could all jump in such a way…there could be hell to pay.
“But it’s better not to reach that stage.”
Whilst Nurmagomedov was declared the winner, retaining his lightweight title, he was escorted out by the police before the belt ceremony could take place.
He was later given his belt in private, but his fee is being held back pending an investigation.
Mr Nurmagomedov said Putin called him after the fight.
He said: “McGregor took a picture with Putin
“But Putin called me and told me he is proud of me and he said congratulations.”
Mr Nurmagomedov apologised for his actions after the fight, explaining McGregor’s insults in the build-up to the event had tested his patience and the provocation on the day pushed him over the edge.
He said: “I want to say sorry to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
“This is not my best side. He talked about my religion, my country, my father. He came to Brooklyn, he broke bus and nearly killed two people.
“So why do people still talk about me jumping over the cage? I have shown respect.”
The fighter returned to his hometown of Dagestan on Monday and met thousands of fans at the Anzhi Arena in the regional capital, Makhachkala.
Meanwhile, Floyd Mayweather has suggested both McGregor and Nurmagomedov will get large fines for their actions.
He said: “It’s going to be a huge fine I’m pretty sure because with my fight against Zab Judah, there was a crazy melee in the ring and a huge penalty – a huge fine.
“If I’m not mistaken, seven figures.”