MMA
UFC had a very tough week. Initially, interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov were put forward to a main event of the UFC 223 for the lightweight championship. However, Ferguson withdrew due to a knee injury.
Featherweight champion Max Holloway was brought as a replacement but he was proven to be unfit after not meeting the weight. At the same time, the former undisputed lightweight champion Conor McGregor attacked the bus with UFC 223 fighters after Khabib assaulted the other Russian fighter, Artem Lobov.
Lobov was ruled out of the event for his involvement in the bus incident. And as a result, Conor was taken into custody by NYPD. In the nick of time UFC president, Dana White put forward Al Iaquinta for the main event of the UFC 223.
Out of all these ups and downs, UFC has got its new Lightweight champion. Khabib defeated Al Iaquinta via unanimous decision to claim the first title of his career and also Russia's first champion. McGregor was stripped of his belt which he never defended.
The match went for all three rounds with the judges' score 50-44, 50-43, 50-43 in Khabib's favor.
Undefeated. Undisputed.
Khabib Nurmagomedov with one of the most dominant displays over five rounds in UFC history ??
UFC lightweight champion ??#UFC223 pic.twitter.com/Ww1HaJYWAd
— UFC 223 on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 8, 2018
Dana praised the new champion Khabib and said,“I think Khabib’s performance was amazing. I honestly believe that there are three guys in fighting that would have stayed in the fight. No doubt, Conor McGregor, Cowboy (Donald) Cerrone and Khabib. The stuff that this guy went through, physically, emotionally and mentally this week… I’ve been on the side where the guy who is the champ and had a full camp won’t take on a guy who’s had a short (camp.) What that guy’s been through and he fought. And much respect to Al too, he didn’t show up for a paycheck. He came to win.”
Following the victory, everybody had expected he would have a message for The Notorious. "Where's Conor? You want to fight with bus? I want to fight with real gangster", he said. "I want to fight with Georges St-Pierre in New York. Madison Square Garden." he further said.
So, how will the Irishman react? We can see the possibility of Khabib Vs Conor for the lightweight championship in the near future. But for that, Conor has to face the lawsuit first as he might face the imprisonment.
In another match, Rose Namajunas defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision to claim back her strawweight title. The two fought last time in November with the result in Joanna's favor.
