UFC fighter Mounir Lazzez caused controversy after thanking alleged Irish mob boss Daniel Kinahan after his win over Ange Loosa.

“The Sniper” got the decision in the first bout of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night – but it was his comments afterwards that hit the headlines.

The US government recently announced a string of sanctions against Kinahan, his father Christy, and his brother Christy Jnr, Schaefer.

Those included a $5 million bounty on the alleged drug lord, who has always denied any wrongdoing, which has led to several personalities within the fight world distancing themselves from him.

Top Rank boss and long-time Tyson Fury promoter Bob Arum said that he would no longer work with Kinahan.

The 90-year-old also revealed that the alleged gangster had earned millions from four Fury fights in 2019 and 2021, before sanctions were imposed.

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However, Lazzez opted to go another route by thanking his “brother” Kinahan – and later claimed he knew nothing about the sanctions placed on him.

Lazzez said on the mic following his victory: “I would love to thank my coaches and my brother Daniel Kinahan, without him I would never be the man who I am today and my career at this point. Thanks a lot.”

When asked about his remarks in the post-fight press conference, according to MMA Junkie, Lazzez said: “That man is a friend and adviser. He's the one who picked me up every time life had kicked me down.

“He is a real man of his word. He's the one who taught me what it means to be real family, a real friend.

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“It's someone I cannot thank enough for where I am today and who I am today… That's why I said that, all the shout-out and credit to him.”

When quizzed about Kinahan being sanctioned by the US government, Lazzez replied: “No, I don't know that.

“I think I'm here to entertain people. I give the credit to whoever deserves credit. I'm not involved in this kind of stuff. I don't know about it and I will investigate how it is.

“For me, it's a simple thing, a friend outside the gym. I meet him for advice and he helped me throughout my career.”

He was then told about police saying in Dublin earlier this week: “For a message, anyone in combat sports who continues to work with him, they're involved in a criminal network.”

Lazzez replied: “I don't follow this kind of news. I focus on the sport, I focus on my family, I focus and entertain people and that's the most important.”

UFC president Dana White declined to comment on the comments from Lazzez.

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