At long last, the main event fans have waited for happened. Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229.
Years of absence for the former champion McGregor gave Khabib (and Tony Ferguson, for that matter) an opening to become UFC Lightweight Champion. As McGregor returned from boxing Floyd Mayweather, he had his sights set on the undefeated Russian.
McGregor and Khabib had a run-in earlier this year, after McGregor infamously threw a dolly at a bus that Nurmagomedov was on, after the latter cornered a teammate of McGregor's during UFC 223 week in Brooklyn, New York. Six months later, the two took to the cage with Khabib technically the champion, and McGregor technically the challenger.
Nurmagomedov landed an early takedown, but struggled to advance position. The second round saw a stunner, when Khabib cracked Conor with a huge overhand and dropped McGregor. The rest of the round was spent on top of McGregor with heavy strikes and submission threats until McGregor got to his feet to end the round.
The third round saw McGregor stuff a couple of takedowns and land some punches, but get pushed against the fence. After McGregor had to be warned for several rules infractions, Khabib came out in round four pushing hard for the takedown. Ultimately Nurmagomedov got the submission with face crank.
Nurmagomedov then jumped the cage and attacked members of Conor McGregor's corner. Another member of Nurmagomedov's corner attacked McGregor into the cage and security had to break up the insane brawl that followed.
Dana White refused to put the championship belt on Khabib Nurmagomedov after the fight, fearful that the crowd would riot.
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