At UFC 229, Khabib Nurmagomedov put in a performance of a lifetime to dominate and submit former two-division champion, Conor McGregor.
Despite Khabib’s stunning victory, this fight will likely be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
Understanding the Emotions Leading up to UFC 229
This conflict dates all the way back to April this year when Khabib Nurmagomedov was set to fight for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 223. A few days prior to this event, Khabib was recorded confronting and getting physical with Artem Lobov – a training partner of Conor McGregor. A few days later, this confrontation became known to McGregor and prompted him to travel to New York in aid of his fellow SBG fighter.
What happened next is no secret; McGregor, along with 20 of his ‘goons,’ attacked a bus carrying Khabib Nurmagomedov and many fighters who were set to compete at UFC 223. The Irishman then proceeded to hurdle a steel dolly through the window that injured Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg and rendered them unable to compete.
After this despicable act, a warrant was put out for Conor McGregor’s arrest. Later that night he turned himself in and was charged with three counts of assault and as well as one count of criminal mischief.
In the end, “Mystic Mac” got away with five days of community service accompanied with anger management classes, but Dana White has since said that the incident has cost him “millions.”
This incident only increased the disdain each competitor had for one another, and after months of trash talk, they were finally booked to face each other on October 6 at UFC 229.
Footage of how the #UFC229 brawl started has emerged. It shows Dominance MMA's Rizvan Magomedov taunting Dillon Danis moments after Conor McGregor is submitted. Danis pushes him away, an act Khabib saw and prompted him to scale the cage an try dropkick him. H/T to @MIKERUSSELLMMA pic.twitter.com/aLNCGr1AwR
— Chisanga Malata (@Chisanga_Malata) October 9, 2018
The Aftermath of UFC 229
Looking past the fight for just a moment, after Khabib Nurmagomedov impressively submitted Conor McGregor in round four he then sprung over the cage and into the crowd to assault Dillon Danis – another training partner of McGregor’s. As security was separating both parties outside the Octagon, a teammate of Khabib’s entered the cage and struck McGregor from behind.
McGregor was escorted backstage by security, followed by Nurmagomedov not long after. Dana White refused to give Nurmagomedov his belt publicly, stating how enraged the fans would become at the sight of this.
During the post-fight press conference, White shared that Nurmagomedov’s purse has been withheld and that three members of Khabib’s team that had originally been arrested were not to be charged after McGregor announced that he will not press charges.
Ladies and gentlemen, expect colossal repercussions.