Conor McGregor vs Khabib LIVE: Fight ends in chaos as police drag victorious Khabib off McGregor's cornermen
Re-live LIVE coverage of the biggest event in the history of the UFC
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Your support makes all the difference.Conor McGregor suffered the second defeat of his UFC career after being submitted by unbeaten UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in arguably the biggest event in the history of the UFC, but the fight descended into chaos immediately after it ended as both fighters were involved in post-match brawls.
A typically acrimonious build-up to the fight, with McGregor ending up in a New York courtroom after he attempted to attack his rival backstage at a UFC event in April, unsurprisingly led to bad blood between the pair, but no one was prepared for the scenes that followed the fight.
After dominating McGregor throughout the first three rounds, Khabib choked McGregor out to force him into submitting, but reacted by jumping over the Octagon fence to confront his teammates, while members from his own stable jumped into the Octagon to attack McGregor. Re-live all the action here.
Essential information:
When is UFC 229?
Khabib vs McGregor will take place on 6 October 2018, or 7 October for UK fans. The fight takes place in Las Vegas, which means it’s going to be a very late night (or very early morning) for all British fight fans.
Where is UFC 229?
Like most of the UFC’s big events, UFC 229 will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
It’s the same venue that staged Mayweather vs McGregor, as Nurmagomedov’s unanimous decision victory over Edson Barboza back in December 2017.
What are their records?
- Nurmagomedov: 26 fights, 26 wins. (8 KOs, 8 submissions, 10 decisions.)
- McGregor: 24 fights, 21 wins, 3 losses. (18 KOs, 1 submission, 2 decisions.) (All defeats by way of submission.)
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport.
Check back here on Saturday afternoon as we begin building up to the biggest fight in the history of the UFC: undefeated current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov against former featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor.
It’s been almost two years since the Irishman last fought in the UFC – when he stopped reigning champion Eddie Alvarez in two rounds to claim the lightweight title – although McGregor has certainly been keeping himself busy.
Since becoming the first man in UFC history to hold titles in two weight divisions simultaneously, McGregor has been involved in a number of controversies, not to mention fighting Floyd Mayweather in the most lucrative boxing match ever.
But his latest challenge is arguably be his toughest to date. Khabib Nurmagomedov boasts an unblemished professional record and currently holds the longest undefeated streak in MMA history, with 26 wins.
So, where's your money? Not long until we find out.
So what are the records in play tonight? Well both aren't too shabby as it happens.
- Nurmagomedov: 26 fights, 26 wins. (8 KOs, 8 submissions, 10 decisions.)
- McGregor: 24 fights, 21 wins, 3 losses. (18 KOs, 1 submission, 2 decisions.)
Who else is fighting I hear you ask. Well...
Main card:
- Main event: Khabib Nurmagomedov (c) vs Conor McGregor (five rounds for lightweight title)
- Co-main event: Tony Ferguson vs Anthony Pettis (lightweight)
- Ovince Saint Preux vs Dominick Reyes (light heavyweight)
- Derrick Lewis vs Alexander Volkov (heavyweight)
- Michelle Waterson vs Felice Herrig (women's strawweight)
Prelims:
- Featured prelim: Sean O’Malley vs Jose Alberto Quinonez (featherweight)
- Sergio Pettis vs Jussier Formiga (flyweight)
- Scott Holtzman vs Alan Patrick (lightweight)
- Ryan LaFlare vs Tony Martin (welterweight)
- Lina Lansberg vs Yana Kunitskaya (women's bantamweight)
- Gray Maynard vs Nik Lentz (lightweight)
Excited yet? Well this should get you in the mood.
Our man Ewan MacKenna is in Las Vegas and was there for the pre-fight press conference on Thursday evening.
It was, er, quite the experience.
If the press conference sparkled then the weigh-in blew up into real-life fireworks.
It was another feisty affair with McGregor bringing special guest with him up on stage.
Here's how it all went down.
This evening marks Khabib's first defence of the UFC lightweight title, while Conor McGregor will be aiming to recapture his crown after being stripped of his belt by the promotion.
Not that he's been letting that bother him during fight week...
McGregor believes he has spotted flaws in Khabib’s fighting style and intends to “take his head off” in their showdown for the UFC lightweight title.
“Saturday night: You’re in for a show, trust me on that. I’m going to take his head off. Trust me.
“(It will be a) devastating KO. (Nurmagomedov is) too easy to hit, too flat-footed, too predictable, I’m going to knock him clean out.”
This one has bean heated in the run-up, that's for sure.
McGregor mentioned in last month’s press conference about how his ancestors fought the English empire and that his family name was banned for a century by King James.
Nurmagomedov, though, referenced McGregor’s grandfather’s time with the British Merchant Navy.
Nurmagomedov said: “These guys talk about (how) they fight English people but his grandfather worked with the English navy. Now you support (his grandson)? I’m going to change this on Saturday night.
“I have a question for Ireland. What about your language, what about your Irish language? Where’s your language? What’s wrong with your language?
“Are you guys right now with England, you guys change your language. Give me answer someone if you can. It’s very interesting.”
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