Khabib Nurmagomedov retained his UFC lightweight title, submitting Conor McGregor in the fourth round. However, the victory was overshadowed by the horrific scenes that followed.
Following his rear-naked choke submission, Khabib Nurmagomedov lept over the cage and appeared to attack Conor McGregor’s team in the crowd, with his jiu-jitsu training partner Dillon Danis cited as one of the men attacked in the chaotic brawl.
It marked an unsavoury end to a rivalry which has been brewing over the last two years, with Khabib performing at his best and getting the victory over McGregor. The Russian moves to 27-0, but his future as a champion remains in limbo, with a potential criminal charge pending.
It marked a sad night for mixed martial arts, as with the world watching it descended into a scene that was as far from sportsmanlike as is humanely possible.
Tony Ferguson and Anthony Pettis went to war for two rounds, with multiple knockdowns and both men left in a bloodied state. Ferguson walked away victorious after Pettis’ corner stopped the fight at the end of the second round.
Both men showed incredible heart and will to bounce back from the brink of defeat, but eventually and somewhat unfortunately, it ended with Pettis on his stool and his corner with drawing him from the fight.
Tony Ferguson will now be hoping to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov, should his issues be clear following the chaos.
#UFC229
Derrick Lewis pulled off an incredible comeback with just twenty-one seconds left, knocking Alexander Volkov out cold after trailing on the scorecards. Lewis had looked exhausted and out of options against a comfortable Volkov, who had controlled the remainder of the fight on the feet.
With just over thirty seconds left in the fight, the American landed a huge right over hand which caught his heavyweight companion flush across the chin, sending him to the canvas. The “Black Beast” followed it up with some devastating ground and pound, forcing the referee to call and end to the fight.
Lewis has now won nine of his last ten fights in the octagon, leaving fights with Stipe Miocic and title aspirations firmly in sight. Volkov will now have to regroup and reroute his assault on the heavyweight division.
The Black Beast KO's Volkov just seconds before the fight ends! What a comeback! What a fight!
Listen to that roar! #UFC229
Dominick Reyes earned an important victory in the light heavyweight division to remain unbeaten after outpointing Ovince St Preux. Reyes appeared to have knocked St Preux out just before the conclusion of the fight, but the referee hadn’t waved the fight off and it went to the judges’ scorecards. Reyes moves to 10-0 and will fly up the rankings at 205lbs with the victory.
Michelle Waterson outpointed Felice Herrig after a fun strawweight affair to open up the main card. Waterson demonstrated her superior technique throughout the fight and despite some close rounds, she managed to walk away with a big victory in a short-of-ideas strawweight division.
Full Results
Dominick Reyes def. Ovince St Preux via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Derrick Lewis def. Alexander Volkov via TKO (strikes) after 4:39 of Round 3.
Michelle Waterson def. Felice Herrig via. unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 30-27).
Jussier Formiga def. Sergio Pettis via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 29-28).
Vicente Luque def. Jalin Turner via TKO (strikes) after 3:52 of Round 1.
Aspen Ladd def. Tonya Evinger via TKO (strikes) after 3:26 of Round 1.
Scott Holtzman def. Alan Patrick via TKO (strikes) after 3:42 of Round 3.
Yana Kunitskaya def. Lina Lansberg via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Nik Lentz def. Gray Maynard via TKO (strikes) after 1:19 of Round 2.
Tony Martin def. Ryan LaFlare via TKO (strikes) after 1:00 of Round 3.