This past weekend, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Eagle FC made its U.S. debut, with Eagle FC 44 in Miami, Fl. But before he became a burgeoning promoter, Nurmagomedov was one of the biggest stars in MMA, and the fight that pushed him to superstar status is remembered for one of the most controversial moments in UFC history.
At UFC 229, Nurmagomedov defended his lightweight title against former champion Conor McGregor. The fight was a heated affair with both fighters exchanging fiery words and McGregor even attacking the bus Khabib was riding on. But for all the drama leading up to the bout, the fight itself was far less intense, with Nurmagomedov dominating McGregor en route to a fourth-round submission victory. But then all hell broke loose.
After McGregor was submitted, Nurmagomedov leapt over the fence to attack McGregor. It took several minutes for everyone involved to control their tempers. This was a scene that received almost universal condemnation. Nurmagomedov jumped over the fence and attacked McGregor’s corner, initiating a brawl that took several minutes to settle.
” I’m not going say that I am proud to have something like this,” Numragomedov said on the Full Subscribe Podcast .. “Maybe at the age right now, 33 and a half, maybe I’m not going to jump right now, But, for that time (I did).”
Obviously, it takes two people to cause an accident. Many pointed out McGregor’s prefight attacks on Nurmagomedov. But discussing the brawl further, Nurmagomedov said it wasn’t just that McGregor talked so much beforehand, it’s that he couldn’t back it up on fight night.
“I was first preparing for war,” Nurmagomedov stated. “I come inside the cage, I fight with this guy, and he tapped. It’s like I don’t know why I came here. Why do I work so hard to get this job? You’re going to tap easy like this? He tapped and I took his chin. The one I am upset about is the fact that I expected more from him than I found inside his cage. Honestly, I don’t remember everything, I’m going to be honest. It was a crazy, emotional moment. I’m like okay this party not finished.”
Khabib didn’t know just how accurate he was. McGregor and Khabib have continued their feuding in public over the years since the brawl. Things got so bad that at one point the UFC felt compelled to intervene. They will probably never again fight, with Nurmagomedov retiring from the sport. However, their rivalry inside and outside of the cage will forever bind them together.
TOP STORIES
Khabib. Khabib Numagomedov laughs at Jake Paul’s offer to fight him: “Come on… [he would last] in a few minutes.”
Reaction. Jack Hermansson reacts to Sean Strickland declaring that he wants to kill someone in the octagon.
Smooth. Benson Henderson believes he has ‘underperformed’ his Bellator contract and hopes to sign a new one.
Frozen. Jeremy Stephens says he felt ‘iced out’ by the UFC: ‘I’ve done everything for that company’.
Rankings. Some small changes to the MMA Fighting Global P4P Rankings this month.
VIDEO STEW
Between the Links.
Top 10 light heavyweight submissions in UFC history.
PFL Challenger Series.
Francis Ngannou at Jackass.
Paddy Pimblett.
LISTEN UP
We Got Next. Interviews with Joe Lauzon, Cheick Kongo, Tresean Gore, and Sullivan Cauley.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Jake Paul.
What I do outside the ring is more important than what I do inside the ring… hands down. https://t.co/y8PYIr3qAL
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) February 3, 2022
Aljamain Sterling getting into it with The Coach.
Nothing worse than shady ppl.
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) February 3, 2022
Stop giving them ammunition. Focus on your fight. You will be rewarded with all of the respect you deserve. The issue people have is all of the talking on social media coming off surgery and losing on the score cards in the last fight. This is just a thought. Positivity https://t.co/KkyuzcDSnW
— Jonathan Coachman (@TheCoachrules) February 3, 2022
Thanks but that tweet had nothing to do with Yan. Like not even the slightest bit. Since an Ammy, I have been giving ammunition out. And I will never change because others can’t or don’t know how to deal with pressure. It pushed me to make diamonds with it. Perspective.
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) February 3, 2022
My man I am a fan. Didn’t say the tweet was about Yan. You can choose to not change your mind. As a competitor in the fight game it’s all about what you do lately. We all want that to be in the octagon, not on social media. Good luck. https://t.co/hWdwiwEHjC
— Jonathan Coachman (@TheCoachrules) February 3, 2022
You quoted a tweet when you could’ve just @ me instead?
It’s not smart to jump into a cage fight when you physically can’t last 3 RDs. I was rushed into the Oct date. I was not healthy.
I’ve been ready since Jan.
I will never change to make ppl happy or to like me.
April 9th https://t.co/O7YG2sjPgo
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) February 3, 2022
Marvin Vettori.
You was in the cage with me 30 pounds heavier and for real I know a bitch her name Felicia she hits harder than you @danawhite
— Marvin Vettori (@MarvinVettori) February 3, 2022
Nick Diaz and BJ Penn.
Wit the OGs @bjpenndotcom
And PMT pic.twitter.com/0q1OL5q6S8— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) February 3, 2022
Injury.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bevon Lewis (7-3) vs. Marcelo Nunes (7-1); PFL Challenger Series, Mar. 25.
Giacomo Lemos (7-0) vs. Brett Martin (10-1, 1 NC); PFL Challenger Series, Mar. 25.
Adam Keresh (4-0) vs. Chad Johnson (6-3); PFL Challenger Series, Mar. 25.
Daiqwon Buckley (1-0) vs. Jon Cunningham (1-0); PFL Challenger Series, Mar. 25.
Melsik Baghdasaryan (7-1) vs. T.J. Laramie (12-4); UFC Fight Night, Apr. 16.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading, enjoy the fights, and see y’all next week.
EXIT POLL
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