UFC: Conor McGregor has been released on bail after being arrested by police in New York.
KHABIB Nurmagomedov didn’t have to fight Conor McGregor or Tony Ferguson — or even Max Holloway — to win the UFC lightweight championship.
But it’s his nonetheless as the Russian crowned a long journey to the gold by defeating late call-up Al Iaquinta by unanimous decision (50-43 x 2, 50-44) at UFC 223 in New York.
Nurmagomedov took his record to 26-0 but had some critics picking holes in his performance on a night Rose Namajunas retained the women’s strawweight crown in her rematch against Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
McGregor’s inactivity saw Nurmagomedov scheduled to fight Ferguson for the championship. When Ferguson pulled out with a knee injury, featherweight champ Max Holloway was called in to fill the breach.
But the Hawaiian couldn’t make it to the start line either, which resulted in 11th-ranked contender Iaquinta being handed a Rocky-type opportunity on the main stage.
The New York native certainly gave the home crowd a few moments of excitement after an ominous opening.
It looked like being a typical Nurmagomedov ground destruction as he took Iaquinta down and kept him there in the early rounds. But the finish never came — and by the later rounds commentators and fighters were finding flaws in the Russian’s performance.
Terrible. He’s fighting a dude who was getting ready for a 3 rounder — Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) April 8, 2018
😴🔫 — Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) April 8, 2018
Kevin Lee’s call of “terrible” was arguably a step too far, given Nurmagomedov was never in any kind of trouble. But it went longer than most expected.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan said the fight exposed flaws in Nurmagomedov’s skills.
“We learned a lot about Nurmagomedov tonight. Conor McGregor and Tony Ferguson should call up Al Iaquinta and say thank you,” Rogan said. “I got a text from Brendan Schaub saying ‘Tony Ferguson beats Khabib’.”
Despite all the lightweight contenders he is still yet to face, Nurmagomedov said he wanted to fight Georges St-Pierre next.
Khabib Nurmagomedov on FS1 says that Tony Ferguson needs to win another fight before challenging for the title. Compares the situation to last year and UFC making him fight Barboza after UFC 209 pullout. — Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) April 8, 2018
Thug Rose: ‘I’m just better, man’ Rose Namajunas proved her first round finish of long-reigning women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk was no fluke by winning their rematch by unanimous decision. Namajunas outgunned a woman who was long-considered the best female striker in the world by winning a five-rounder (49-46 x3) that was fought almost entirely on the feet. Jedrzejczyk had blamed a bad weight cut after losing via first round TKO in November last year. But Namajunas was the superior striker again, showing greater variety, movement — and a killer left hook. “I’m just better, man,” Namajunas said. Namajunas regularly got the better of the exchanges to clearly take the first two rounds. Jedrzejczyk worked her way back into the contest by targeting Namajunas’ front leg with heavy kicks. But Namajunas also proved her superiority in one of the former champ’s other biggest strengths — endurance — by finishing stronger. She secured the only take-down of the fight in the final minute to seal the deal — clearly earning Jedrzejczyk’s respect in the process. Share
Mayweather wades into McGregor mess VIDEO: Floyd Mayweather confirms if he does return, it will be in the Octagon! #MayMac2? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/wH9L4GkLgq — BoxingHypeStore.com (@BoxingHype) April 8, 2018 Conor McGregor isn’t the only fight star stealing headlines this weekend. Floyd Mayweather, the undefeated boxer who retired after taking his record to a 50-0 by defeating McGregor last year, has gone out of his way to revive discussion of his potential entry to the UFC. Interviewed during a Showtime boxing broadcast that’s he’s promoting in Las Vegas today, Mayweather was asked if he was truly retired. “Retirement has been great,” he told Jim Gray. “But as you know, and everybody know, I go in retirement, I come back. I go in retirement, I come back. Is it possible I come back? Yes, but if I do come back, it has to be in the Octagon. “I spoke with my team. I spoke with (adviser) Al Haymon. Al Haymon says no. But I spoke to Showtime, I spoke to CBS. If we can get together with Dana White and the UFC to make a megafight happen. It could be against Conor McGregor, we don’t know. But Showtime and CBS have to be involved if we do a multi-fight MMA deal.” Mayweather said he would likely fight as a featherweight (145 pounds) and that he “absolutely” wanted to do it, “if the money is right”. Told of Mayweather’s comments and his insistence Showtime and CBS be involved, UFC president Dana White said: “That ain’t happening.” As for McGregor’s antics this week, Mayweather, a convicted domestic abuser, had this take: “I feel that when you have reached such high status you have to carry yourself in a classy way. Outside the ring you have to carry yourself as a gentleman.” Share
Main card — Non-title fights Featherweight Renato Moicano defeated Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28) Featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov defeated Kyle Bochniak via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28) The featherweight division is on notice. Zabit Magomedsharipov is coming for you. The Russian has only fought three times in the UFC but every outing has been more impressive. He showcased incredible speed and creativity while dominating Kyle Bochniak for three rounds. Surely a top 10 opponent is next. If Magomedsharipov gets his way, Yair Rodriguez later this year. “Where yet to see him face world-class opposition but what we’re seeing is world-class talent,” commentator Joe Rogan said. OH MY GOD!!!!@Zabit_MMA @KyleBochniak WOW!!! #UFC223 pic.twitter.com/4a9U2PBDSL — UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2018 Bochniak was the most entertaining of outmatched opponents, gamely taunting Magomedsharipov and never taking a backward step to play his part in a fight of the night contender. But despite finishing strongly he lacked weapons and was left a bloody mess from countless kicks and punches to the body and head. The fight finished with both men trading punches in a wild exchange which brought the crowd to its feet. Lightweight Chris Gruetzemacher defeated Joe Lauzon via TKO (corner stoppage) — R2, 5:00 Chris Gruetzemacher dismantled UFC veteran Joe Lauzon with a series of uppercuts and body shots, forcing his corner to throw in the towel after two rounds. That was hard to watch. Lauzon is a legend. #UFC223 — Matt Schnell (@DANGER_Caged) April 8, 2018 Share
Undercard Strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz defeated Felice Herrig via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29) Karolina Kowalkiewicz continued to position herself for another shot at the women’s strawweight title that will be contested by Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jedrzejczyk tonight. The Polish fighter, who owns a victory over current champ Namajunas and went the distance with former champ Jedrzejczyk, outpointed Herrig in a closely fought three-rounder. “I expected I would fight three tough rounds, Felice is very tough,” Kowalkiewicz said. “I’m excited I won the fight.” Lightweight Olivier Aubin-Mercier defeated Evan Dunham via TKO (strikes, R1 0:53) Olivier Aubin-Mercier announced himself as a genuine lightweight contender with a savage demolition of Evan Dunham. Aubin-Mercier landed a brutal knee to the body then followed up with a barrage of punches as Dunham sunk to the canvas inside the opening minute of the first round, forcing the referee to step in. Hot damn, Olivier Aubin-Mercier just ripped Evan Dunham's body to shreds with those knees. The first straight left he threw to the body had Dunham wincing before that, too. Very nice. #UFC223 — Patrick Wyman (@Patrick_Wyman) April 8, 2018 Flyweight Ashlee Evans-Smith defeated Bec Rawlings via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3) Aussie Bec Rawlings suffered her fourth defeat in a row at the hands of American Ashlee Evans-Smith. Rawlings went the three rounds but another loss sees her professional record slump to 7-8 — even though she didn’t agree with the judges’ decision. When the scores were revealed she turned away and said: “Oh f*** off.” Rawlings’ UFC career now hangs in the balance and a return to fellow MMA promotion Invicta may be on the cards. Much needed win for Ashlee Evans-Smith who snaps a 2 fight losing streak. That's now 4 straight losses for Bec Rawlings. 7-8 as a pro fighter. Probably the end of the road for her in the UFC. Might not be the worst idea in the world to go back to Invicta. #UFC223 — Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) April 8, 2018 Gotta be the end of the line in the octagon for Rawlings. Four losses in a row over two divisions. #UFC223 — Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) April 8, 2018 Light heavyweight Devin Clark defeated Mike Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28) Share
By now, you've probably heard reports that Conor McGregor and a group of followers stormed the Barclays Center loading dock and attacked a transport van carrying fellow UFC fighters ahead of UFC 223.
You've probably also seen some cellphone video of the incident. Perhaps you haven't seen this multi-angle, professionally shot version of the incident that the UFC has turned into a Vlog for its Embedded series.
Pardon me, but I can't help but wonder why a camera crew was stationed in the loading dock seemingly perfectly positioned to catch these events on camera. Perhaps they were there to film another vignette or presentational piece.
In any case, this video captures the savagery and a good piece of the adverse effects of the attack by McGregor and Co. on Thursday afternoon. McGregor was arrested after turning himself into police, and he posted $50,000 bail. Details on his future in the sport and with the UFC are a bit sketchy, but UFC President Dana White seemed to have softened his stance toward McGregor on Saturday night compared with the way he spoke on Thursday.
After UFC 223, White addressed the media and said that he'd spoken to McGregor and that the conversation was positive.
Dana White with the latest on Conor McGregor. pic.twitter.com/ON7QbJg0RU — NESN (@NESN) April 8, 2018
That seems to leave the door wide open for a return to the Octagon, but you'd think McGregor will be the target of a bevy of lawsuits because of the property damage and injuries suffered during the attacks.
Stay tuned as more information is revealed on this subject and other McGregor-related topics.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, a native son of Dagestan, became the Russian Federation’s first Ultimate Fighting Champion early Sunday morning. The 29-year-old grappler manhandled and out-struck Al Iaquinta, of Long Island, New York, to take possession of the besieged UFC lightweight title at the conclusion of UFC 223 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Since winning the 155lb belt in 2016, Conor McGregor did not defend the strap once over the last 520 days. The UFC finally decided to do something about it and promised Nurmagomedov (or his opponent) an ‘undisputed’ belt with a win. In the wake of Nurmagomedov’s lopsided decision victory (50-44, 50-43, 50-43) over Iaquinta, the UFC officially stripped the title from its Irish superstar and essentially treated the interim belt Tony Ferguson won in October like it never existed.
Conor McGregor has turned into what he once condemned: a bully and a bum Read more
“Now just one champion,” said Nurmagomedov, who improved to 26-0 as a professional mixed martial artist. “No more fake champions. No champions who don’t defend the title. Now the UFC has a champion and this champion wants to defend his title.”
This doesn’t necessarily mean Nurmagomedov is No1 – McGregor and Ferguson supporters can certainly make a good argument for their guy – but it does place the Russian at the epicenter of the division for as long as he manages to remain.
McGregor’s celebrity status and undeniable results, and Ferguson’s success (he holds a 10-fight win streak inside the octagon), suggests that the trio will find opportunities to sort amongst themselves who’s the best. Yet McGregor’s legal issues and Ferguson’s health concerns prompted Nurmagomedov to call-out his idol, 35-year-old Georges St-Pierre, who previously expressed a desire and willingness to drop to 155 to become a three-division champion.
“Georges St-Pierre, Conor or Tony it doesn’t matter,” Khabib said. “All these guys are tough.”
The consolidation of titles leaves the broad-shouldered powerhouse – boasting a 32-round win streak inside the octagon that topped a record set by St-Pierre – as the UFC’s lone lightweight titleholder.
Ferguson (the Dagestani’s original opponent at Barclays) was removed from their main event bout on 1 April following a freak injury during a UFC photo shoot. The news was the first in a cascade of events that tested Nurmagomedov’s resolve throughout fight week.
“The stuff this guy went through physically, emotionally, mentally this week was unbelievable,” said UFC president Dana White.
On Wednesday, Nurmagomedov found himself in a verbal showdown with Artem Lobov, an undercard fighter and a close friend of McGregor’s. The next day he essentially shrugged off McGregor’s brazen and potentially criminal retaliatory salvo at the Barclays Center loading dock. And as late as Friday afternoon, after Ferguson’s replacement UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway was forced to bow out while cutting weight, he didn’t have an opponent.
Prior to McGregor’s injurious antics on Thursday that prevented several fighters from competing at UFC 223, Iaquinta was slated to appear in a three-round bout on the pay-per-view portion of the card. When given the chance to face the unbeaten, unblemished Dagestani fighter for a belt (despite weighing 0.2lbs above the 155lb championship limit) Iaquinta stepped up.
“If you want to be champion – undisputed, undefeated – you have to be able to beat anybody,” Nurmagomedov said. “All week I stayed calm.”
Nurmagomedov played the part well and he stepped into the Octagon opposite Iaquinta (13-4-1) with legacy in mind. He jumped ahead on the judges’ cards, easily wrestling Iaquinta to the floor where he maintained control and offensive superiority. As the 25-minute contest unfolded, “The Eagle” opted to showcase his speed and athleticism by standing with the heavy-hitting New Yorker much more than his corner wanted.
“We had one game plan: pressure, take him down, work on ground,” the fighter said. “But I feel I was faster than him and I want to use this. When you do something for 25 minutes inside the cage it’s better for you than training 10 weeks in the the gym. The experience is different.”
A life of training has not yet made Nurmagomedov a complete mixed martial artist, however he sits at the forefront of a cadre of Dagestani fighters who have asserted themselves on the global MMA scene in recent years. Almost all of them are regarded as tough, diligent, grapplers, but at an elite level that may not be enough win on a regular basis. Though the gap in Khabib’s skills continues to close, he hasn’t been pressed to diversify his game due to his dynamic and dominant grappling ability, which was honed by his father, Abdulmanap, since he was 8.
Successful title defenses could make Nurmagomedov a massive draw for the UFC, and White expects to promote the company’s first Russian event this year, likely in September.
“I think if we go to Russia we’ll probably have a fight first without him,” White said. “Then it would be awesome to have a fight with him.”
Asked about promoting Nurmagomedov-McGregor in Moscow, White wouldn’t let himself speak on it considering the Irishman’s troubles. However Nurmagomedov said he envisioned a world tour that took him and McGregor to Tokyo, Moscow, Dublin, Los Angeles and Rio ahead of a monster fight in 2018.
“I told you guys,” he said, “I’m going to make him humble.”
This is an area of life the devout Muslim hopes to share with McGregor. He has noticed the impact that celebrity and money has had on some athletes inside the UFC, and he does not wish this for himself.
“I don’t want this belt changing me,” Nurmagomedov said. “I want to stay focused. Like next month is Ramadan. After Ramadan I keep training and want to defend the title before the end of the year.
“I want to be the same Khabib before belt and after belt. This is not about me. This is about all the people around me.”
As of Monday, following a long flight home, that will mean family and friends in Dagestan. He has not been home since September, and anticipates immense interest upon his return to Russian, where fans and media have increasingly become a part of his life.
As for the deposed McGregor, Nurmagomedov welcomed any chance to get his hands on the man who flew across the Atlantic with retribution on his mind.
“If he wants to be lightweight champion,” Nurmagomedov said, “he needs to meet me.”
Renato Moicano vs. Calvin Kattar Round 2
Moicano opens up with a huge flurry and punctuates it with another leg kick. Kattar is getting slower and slower as these kicks add up, and is throwing fewer and fewer strikes as a result. Moicano has found his sweet spot at this point and keeps pawing, jabbing, scoring a leg kick and then angling off. Kattar has no answer, and is becoming more and more timid by the minute.
Kattar needed to change things up in Round 2 and he didn't. Unless he can land a lucky punch in Round 3, this one is out of his hands.
10-9 Moicano
