Let's Talk About Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor
So. Here we are. It it Monday, October 8th, and I am writing the blog I truly didn’t think I’d ever have to write…
On Saturday night, UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov did exactly what he said he would do, and smeshed Conor McGregor before defeating him at three minutes and three seconds of the fourth round due to a submission via neck crank. Let’s talk about it.
I’ve spoken enough about the build up to this fight over the past few days, weeks, and even months to last a couple lifetimes, so we’re going to be getting right into the contest (and aftermath) itself now. As of this writing, I’ve seen Nurmagomedov vs McGregor three times – once in person, seated next to Conor McGregor’s personal security and David August, Conor’s dresser/business partner – and twice at home, while Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Landslide’ blared over it and I thought about what could’ve been.
ROUND 1
I loved McGregor’s sense of urgency in making sure Khabib took the first backstep at the get-go, but unfortunately he only got two strikes off before the first takedown was shot – which made the rest of this round a grappling match. I was sorta stunned in real time that McGregor didn’t try to immediately unload and see what he could hit Khabib with, but I do understand in hindsight he may have had a plan on conserving his energy in hopes that when Nurmagomedov’s faded, he was still there. Still, I feel like the opening exchange of this fight could’ve gone a bit better.
Once Khabib clasped onto Mystic Mac’s leg with that anaconda-like vice grip of his, attempting to drag McGregor to the ground, I was panicked, but initially pretty impressed with his takedown defense. Upon multiple viewings, his takedown defense was so great here because he was holding onto Khabib’s shorts, which is very illegal. This becomes a trend for McGregor throughout the fight, which, honestly – I don’t really care much about. I know folk are going to say if Khabib Nurmagomedov was doing the same thing, I’d be throwing a shit fit, but I actually don’t think I would be. Not deep down, at least. This rivalry means more than a mixed martial arts contest. Let ‘em do what they want!
Khabib eventually completed the takedown on McGregor here and finished the round on top of him, but didn’t inflict a ton of damage (Conor’s grappling was holding up pretty well), so while the round was won, not a ton was accomplished – other than both guys just losing a bit of gas.
ROUND 2
Folks, this second round is the shit my nightmares are made of. This is literally everything I feared, and some shit I couldn’t even imagine fearing, coming to fruition.
Before I could even spark a glimmer of hope about McGregor and Khabib once again being where Conor was more comfortable – standing up – Khabib starched McGregor with what may have been the fastest and hardest punch I have ever seen thrown.
I may have watched that gif a hundred times after the fight, just in stunned disbelief that McGregor was finally dropped for the first time in his UFC career…and it was by Khabib Nurmagomedov. Conor was supposed to be as dominant on the feet as Khabib was on the ground, and instead, he was the only one knocked down by a shot. I still can’t believe it, honestly. I guess he was just really anticipating that takedown and was caught completely off guard. Fuck, man. Fuck.
Nurmagomedov capitalized on McGregor being rocked and took him down with ease, immediately pushing McGregor against the fence, trapping his legs, and lifting his hips/knees above his head to smesh. He then smeshed. Two inches from my face, Khabib smeshed Conor McGregor. It happened. It sucked. Blows rained from the heavens on McGregor’s face and body, and there was seemingly no defense on earth that would stop it. He even tried some incredibly illegal knees on the ground, but those didn’t help either. I was waiting for Herb Dean to call it, watching like a pussy with my hands over my face, but somehow…someway…Conor survived the round. On commentary, Dominick Cruz suggested McGregor was tiring Khabib out here, and Rogan had to set him straight. He wasn’t executing a perfect gameplan – he was getting mauled. Fuck.
ROUND 3
Round 3 of Nurmagomedov/McGregor might be even harder to relive than the second, because it’s so god damn bittersweet. Conor won this round pretty clearly, displaying some great octagon control, keeping it where he wanted it, and landing some heavy shots, but he just didn’t look like the fighter we’ve all grown to know over the years. Something was off. His speed wasn’t there, his timing was off, his counter attacks were practically non-existent, and he never hit Khabib on his way in. I’m obviously not even entertaining the “Is McGregor done for good???” narrative I’ve already seen, but from this third round, I think my main takeaway is that ring rust does exist, and he needed a tune up before facing the most dominant lightweight in UFC history who’s never lost a round. Nurmagomedov never should’ve even been competitive with Conor standing up. He just was though. Fuck.
McGregor won this round.
Fuck.
ROUND 4
With momentum in our favor here, and both fighters’ tanks showing a bit of wear (although I’d say relative to everything, McGregor’s cardio was better than anticipated), I knew it was do or die. After a takedown and scramble on the ground pushed up against the fence, though, I also knew it was over.
Khabib’s arm wrapped over Conor’s chin, a neck crank was applied, and McGregor tapped.
It sucked. No two ways about it. I’d say the fight went way more poorly than I ever could’ve anticipated, and was the toughest defeat I’ve ever suffered as a sports fan…or a fan of anything, really.
I knew chaos was imminent as soon as Khabib held onto the choke and threw his mouthguard at Conor’s corner, so I say, as you can hear on that video, “I’m gonna get the fuck outta here.” and before you know it, we’re onto the fifth round.
ROUND 5
McGregor’s jiu jitsu coach Dillon Danis exchanged some words with Khabib post-fight, and as we all now know, Khabib hopped the fence and attempted to double stomp Danis out erupting a massive brawl that spilled into the stands, onto the concourse, and into the streets. It was, as Nate put it, absolute mayhem.
When it comes to speaking about this, I don’t fully know what to say. I don’t take as big an issue with it as most of the MMA media did, not even as a McGregor fan. The attack was on my guys, and I hated the fuckboi who jumped McGregor from behind…
…but at the end of the day, like I said previously in the blog, this was always more than a UFC fight. Harsh words and actions were exchanged on both sides. Nobody’s right for it, and just one side isn’t to blame – seeing the anti-McGregor brigade attack him for throwing a punch at Khabib’s cornerman two seconds after Khabib hit a fuckin’ five star frog splash into the crowd was bananas, McGregor had no idea WHAT was going on – this is how the fight game is, sometimes, and for a lot of people, it’s electric.
For others, and the UFC, it’s probably not great long-term as they could lose sponsorships or regain the stigma they’ve been trying to break out of for twenty five years, but it’s not the end of the world. Incidents like this are few and far between, the last of which came almost a decade ago.
I assume Khabib Nurmagomedov will be suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a bit, and that will determine whether or not he is stripped of the UFC Lightweight Championship.
As for McGregor, and my support for him, I’ll say this – I am eternally grateful to what he and his team have done for me, all the way up to making sure I was safe this week, especially at the fight itself (which I was also in attendance for thanks to Conor). He will be back, and I will be back with him. Onwards and upwards. Viva.