UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov had just submitted Conor McGregor, the most bankable fighter in UFC history.
McGregor, the Irish-born knockout puncher, was never really in the fight at all.
The world-renowned prizefighter spent large portions of the bout on his back, eating repeated punches from a relentless Nurmagomedov.
The martial-artist-turned-boxer-turned-martial-artist was able to land a few shots on the chin of Nurmagomedov, but never the crushing blow that would put him to sleep.
Nurmagomedov, a member of the famed American Kickboxing Academy gym, eventually submitted the Irishman in the fourth, applying a neck crank to finish him off.
The 30-year-old Dagestani champion could’ve basked in the glory of his career-defining victory, but instead tossed his mouthguard to the ground and leapt over the cage, making a beeline for Dilon Danis, McGregor’s flamboyant Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, who had allegedly been heckling him all night.
After the melee, UFC president Dana White reportedly told Nurmagomedov “people are going to get arrested tonight.”
“Put me in jail. No problem,” he responded.
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
If that weren’t enough, Zubaira Tukhugov, a member of Nurmagomedov’s camp, jumped into the UFC’s eight-sided cage to unload a few cheap shots to a still groggy McGregor.
In an unprecedented move, UFC president Dana White sent both fighters to the backstage area before the official announcement from ring announcer Bruce Buffer, and before the 155-pound title could be wrapped around Nurmagomedov’s waist.
“I’m just disgusted and sick over it,” UFC president Dana White said, speaking to Fox Sports after the fight.
“The biggest night ever and I couldn’t be more disappointed. This is some street s*** going on here. This isn’t sport.”
It’s easy to say that with the benefit of hindsight, Dana.
But let’s not forget that White and the UFC’s promotional team fed upon that animosity in hopes that you would fork over the 60 dollarydoos to purchase the fight.
Don’t forget that this became one of the most lucrative pay-per-view events in history, partly because McGregor and a group of hooligans literally threw a hand trolley at a bus containing Nurmagmedov and several other fighters ahead of his championship-capturing fight in April.
And what was White’s reaction to that incident, I hear you ask?
“This is the most disgusting thing that has ever happened in the history of the company,” he told MMA Junkie immediately following the incident.
Of course, even though it was the “most disgusting thing that has ever happened,” it didn’t stop the UFC’s production team from building an entire marketing package around the bus attack in New York.
The truth is, the UFC relished the opportunity to promote the blood feud, but after both incidents were quick to wipe their hands with it.
The bus attack was “disgusting”, and the post-fight melee on Sunday was some “street s***.”
Why are you so surprised, DW?
The stakes for this unofficial champion-versus-champion bout were raised so high that there was bound to be drama, regardless of the outcome of the cage fight in Sin City.
(Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
The ticket-buying audience were riled up. Even worse, both Team McGregor and Team Nurmagomedov were furious.
So when Nurmagomedov dominated and humiliated the UFC’s cash cow, McGregor’s team were seething. Apparently enough for Danis to start hurling insults at the Russian wrestler.
Likewise, Tukhugov, who was serving a two-year suspension from the United State Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), was caught up enough in the drama to sacrifice his entire future by jumping into the cage to attack McGregor.
The reality is, most feuds in prizefighting are mostly fictional, but somewhere along the way, this one became real.
A little too real, if you ask me.
James Bakker
Roar Rookie
Dillon Dannis is not his MMA coach, he helps him out with BJJ and grappling. He is also an incredibly disrespectful and arrogant guy who thinks he is as important as Connor and probably had that coming. John Kavanagh is Connor's MMA coach and is one of the gentlemen of the sport. Check out his interview on Joe Rogan's podcast, he shows some great insight into the whole situation.
shirtpants
Roar Guru
Very capable or the best to ever stop inside the octagon? IMO this solidifies Khabib in discussions as the best lightweight ever and in pound for pound discussions. He's still got to take Ferguson but apart from that I don't know who's left to challenge him.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am still perplexed that people take these fights seriously.
Kunming Tiger
Roar Rookie
for the record khabib is a very capable. grappler, demonstrated excellent ground control. and repeatly used the outside leg trip takedown to good effect.
Kunming Tiger
Roar Rookie
good write up I haven't seen the official verdict but khabib. submitted him with a rear naked choke from the back mount. his forearm is around his throat while his opposite elbow is behind Mc Gregor s shoulder elementary level submission, .a neck crane the primary point of contact is either the temple or top of the head, moving the head sideways away from the. base of the neck, a fisherman crank is a good example in submission wrestling.
farqueue
Roar Rookie
Surely you are joking...khabib reaction of jumping at the coach and not landing anything was worse than a flying luggage trolley that sent shattered glass everywhere, injuring multiple people....I suspect you are a big McGregor fan.
Greg
Guest
That was outside the Octagon, what happened inside the Octagon was instigated by McGregor, he could have let security deal with what was happening outside like he should have.
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
Yeah mate after Khabib attacked Connor’s mma coach first
Gonzo Jacobs
Roar Rookie
"A massive shame that we aren’t talking about how utterly dominant Khabib was on the ground and his feet." We don't need to talk about it. It is etched in history now. Khabib was toying with McGregor like a lion playing with his food.
shirtpants
Roar Guru
Conor took things way too far in the build up to this fight. So insanely disrespectful that I am in no way surprised about the outcome. It would have been great if Khabib had stayed in the octagon but he's snapped after being so calm all week. Conor isn't as innocent as they're all making out. Once Khabib had jumped the cage, Conor threw a few punches at Khabib's coach, which I believe stated it all inside the octagon when it could have been relatively calm. Surely Khabib gets off without any trouble from the UFC after Conor did for New York. The NSAC, that's a different story. Rumour had it that Khabib was planning to retire after this unless a GSP like fight came along which Dana wouldn't do. A massive shame that we aren't talking about how utterly dominant Khabib was on the ground and his feet.
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
McGregor is no angel but Khabib is just as bad
Greg
Guest
New footage has been released that shows McGregor throwing the first punch at Khabib's team, not the other way around.
Gonzo Jacobs
Roar Rookie
You don't get to choose how Khabib was supposed to respond to McGregor's shenanigans over the past 2 years. I can tell you this if you made the comments that McGregor made about Khabib and his family about me. We wouldn't shake hands in this life or the next.
Brendan Jones
Roar Rookie
The finger pointing over this has started, it’s the ufc’s fault for hyping the fight up so much and allowing McGregor to say pretty much whatever he wants. Not true, Khabib was the one who reacted to the situation the way he did instead of being the so called constant professional that all calm that’s he is. Even video and article I read all say the same thing, this was so out of character for Khabib. Or maybe he is just another thug hiding under the mma banner. Khabib attack on McGregor was premeditated, no doubt, create a diversion and attack McGregor, cowards. Yes Connor started with the incident in New York but Khabib reaction was even worse. He could of easily laughed in the face of McGregor after the victory and gloated all he wanted but instead he acted like a chump not a champ. All the responsibility of this incident firmly rests of Khabib shoulders, let’s hope he is dragged butt naked, belly down across hot coals for this one so it never happens again
Coconut
Guest
I watched the entire incident, from multiple angles, and I have concluded that Dana and his mickey mouse outfit are guilty of supreme hypocrisy. They allowed McGregor to spew hateful, racist, religious bile in the build up, and have excused his behavior previously when he himself leapt the fence to attack an opponent. They sat back and allowed him to attack Nurmagomedov’s family, his ethnicity and his religion, so have to take responsibility for what they fermented there. Also from the footage you can see that McGregor jumped the fence himself and threw punches at members of Nurmagomedov’s team first, that prompted the response he got. Again, if you look at the footage you can see this. But again, Nurmagomedov is being made into the scapegoat along with his team - and I think its disgusting. I wont be watching the UFC again, and I'm glad that bigmouth got his comeuppance - he deserved it.