Billed as the biggest UFC fight in history, UFC 229 saw Khabib Nurmagomedov (27-0) remain perfect after tapping out Conor McGregor (21-4) in the fourth round via a near jaw breaking rear-naked choke just above McGregor’s chin.
From the opening minutes of the fight, Nurmagomedov exerted control never relinquished it. McGregor walked forward with his hands low to start the fight, stalking from the center. The loud, trash talking McGregor’s high kicks were blocked, and Kabib responded by shooting from distance, keeping control of the positioning and bringing in punches that wore down the former Irish champion.
UFC 229: Dana White Event Recap
UFC President Dana White shares his thoughts on UFC 229: Khabib vs McGregor. Subscribe to get all the latest UFC content: http://bit.ly/2uJRzRR Experience UFC live with UFC FIGHT PASS, the digital subscription service of the UFC.
Nurmagomedov seemed content to play a dangerous game, trading punches in the pocket with the vaunted knockout artist. Yet he, like Floyd Mayweather, exposed McGregor’s lack of endurance as it was clear that he, while still throwing punches, was tiring. Nurmagomedov eventually pushed inside and again wrapped the body, though McGregor sprawled well against the fence. Nurmagomedov was happy to stay tight to the body, though he couldnt get the fight to the floor before the end of the frame. Dean warned McGregor of an illegal elbow to the back of the head in the final exchange, but no points were taken.
McGregor came out quickly in the fourth after landing a straight left and Kabib answered with a left hook of his own. The champ then maneuvered into set firm in top position, wrapping McGregor’s neck like a boa constrictor and setting it into an almost jaw-breaking rear-naked choke until McGregor had no choice but to tap at the 3:03 mark of the fourth round.
I’m not condoning any of this, but Come on now he had it coming , it’s like the announcers are completely unaware of everything that went down with the bus, the dolly, the glass, the injured UFC fighters, the accusation towards his manager and Team I get it kind of ruined PPV, and the subsequent lawsuits. #UFC229 #conormcgregor #khabib but if you a big mouth like that you better be ready for Retaliation just saying.. GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS..
11.5k Likes, 833 Comments – Abner Mares Martinez (@abnermares) on Instagram: “I’m not condoning any of this, but Come on now he had it coming , it’s like the announcers are…”
The T Mobile center erupted in excitement, Khabib fans and anti-McGregor fans exploding as referee Herb Dean stopped the fight. Nurmagomedov had some choice words for McGregor, walked to the center of the cage, pointed in the direction of McGregor’s team outside of the cage, threw his mouthpiece at them and then all hell broke loose.
TeamBeqa on Twitter
That’s what you get for insulting his religion, khabib you legend #UFC229 https://t.co/rIbhjexHUK
In a shocking moment, the champ charged and jumped up and over the cage, launching himself into the crowd and starting a melee that had arena security and Las Vegas police scrambling to break the riot up, eventually escorting him out of the area. While that was transpiring, two people from Nurmagomedov’s camp jumped into the cage and attacked McGregor, who was sitting on the canvas while trying to recover from the choke out.
Grant on Twitter
Pandemonium at the strip in Vegas y’all #ufc229 https://t.co/0hNM7E2OTn
After several minutes of rioting barely contained by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, UFC President Dana White stood in the Octagon with Nurmagomedov, who had returned from his melee inciting jump into the crowd and fight with McGregor teammate Dillon Danis. In the aftermath, three Nurmagomedov associates were arrested and later released once McGregor decided to not press charges. Ironically, it was McGregor who began the initial war with Nurmagomedov and his camp during the infamous Barclays melee where he threw a cart at the bus Kabib was on, shattering a window and injuring innocent fighters on board.
While Khabib vs McGregor was, without question, the highlight of the night, fans were also treated to other amazing performances, including the co-main event featuring Fight of The Night winners Tony Ferguson vs. Anthony Pettis, and the knockout by Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis.
Khabib dominated and displayed his brilliance in the tap out victory, but his victory has also given the UFC a new headache as they must wrestle with the fact that another of their main marketing stars not only lost, but was submitted after weeks of smack talk and blatant disrespect. They rode the marketing of the McGregor ethos in his comeback, but now that he has been taken down again, the UFC has both a PR problem and marketing void to deal with.
UFC 229: Dana White Event Recap
UFC President Dana White shares his thoughts on UFC 229: Khabib vs McGregor. Subscribe to get all the latest UFC content: http://bit.ly/2uJRzRR Experience UFC live with UFC FIGHT PASS, the digital subscription service of the UFC.
