UFC 254 Full Fight Video: Watch Khabib Nurmagomedov Submit Conor McGregor

UFC 229 took place on October 6, 2018, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the main event of the card, former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor returned to the octagon for the first time in nearly two years. By the time McGregor stepped back into the octagon, the UFC had stripped him of both his titles. His opponent at UFC 229 was Khabib Nurmagomedov, who with his perfect 26-0 record, had claimed the UFC lightweight crown in April 2018 at UFC 223.

UFC 223, was the event where McGregor threw a dolly through the window of a busload of fighters leaving the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Nurmagomedov was on that bus. McGregor did not get at Nurmagomedov, but he injured two fighters, Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg. The fallout saw those fighters pulled from the card as well as Artem Lobov, who was with McGregor when he attacked the bus. 

Two nights later, Nurmagomedov captured the vacant lightweight title with a decision win over Al Iaquinta. What he did not do was forget about McGregor.

Nurmagomedov and McGregor had some spirited exchanges leading up to the fight. With the history between them, their matchup became one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history. McGregor entered the bout as the +140 underdog. The defending champion was the -170 favorite. 

As expected, Nurmagomedov shot for a takedown early. McGregor did a good job in fighting off the attempt, but Nurmagomedov eventually took the fight to the mat. For most of the round, Nurmagomedov pushed McGregor against the cage and kept McGregor from using his striking. 

Early in the second round, Nurmagomedov scored a flash takedown with a right hand and shortly after that he again took McGregor to the mat. Nurmagomedov spent most of the round landing ground strikes and talking to McGregor as he landed heavy punches. McGregor walked back to his corner with a smile on his face. He had nothing to smile about after the first 10 minutes of the bout.

McGregor was more aggressive in the third stanza, looking to use his striking. The ex-champion fought off the first takedown attempt of the round, but he ate a big punch for his trouble. McGregor had his best five minutes of the fight in the third five-minute period, but it was far from dominant. He also looked tired. Also, when McGregor spoke to Nurmagomedov at the end of the stanza and said, “It’s only business,” it seemed as if he might have been mentally defeated.

McGregor landed a few body kicks to start the fourth round, but they were not strong enough to keep Nurmagomedov from moving forward. Another takedown followed by the lightweight champion. Once on the mat, Nurmagomedov slowly worked his way to back mount. He then locked in a neck crank that forced McGregor to tap at the 3:03 mark of the fourth stanza.

Things got ugly almost as soon as McGregor conceded the bout. Nurmagomedov leaped into the crowd to go after McGregor’s cornerman Dillon Danis. While that was going on, some of Nurmagomedov’s teammates jumped into the octagon and went after McGregor. 

The aftermath of that incident saw the Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Nurmagomedov for nine months.

Nurmagomedov defeated Dustin Poirier in his next title defense to take his record to 28-0.

On Saturday, Nurmagomedov faces current interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC 254.

UFC 254 takes place on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Before that fight takes place, watch Nurmagomedov submit McGregor to retain the UFC lightweight crown.