Khabib vs McGregor: Eight Years Since The Biggest Fight In UFC History

Eight years ago today, the MMA world stood still. On October 6, 2018, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor finally settled the most bitter rivalries in combat sports when they collided for the UFC lightweight championship in the main event of UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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It wasn’t simply fighter versus fighter.

It was Russia versus Ireland. The undefeated destroyer versus the biggest superstar the sport had ever produced. Khabib versus McGregor.

And eight years later, it remains the biggest pay-per-view event in UFC history.

The Biggest Fight In UFC History

McGregor returned to the Octagon for the first time in almost two years, attempting to reclaim the lightweight crown against the seemingly unstoppable Nurmagomedov.

“The Notorious” had become the first simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history in 2016 before crossing over to boxing for his blockbuster fight against Floyd Mayweather.

While McGregor became a global superstar, Nurmagomedov continued his march through the lightweight division. “The Eagle” defeated Al Iaquinta at UFC 223 to claim the vacant lightweight championship and arrived at UFC 229 with a perfect 26-0 professional record.

But the rivalry went far beyond championship gold.

Tensions between the two camps had become deeply personal, culminating in McGregor and members of his entourage attacking a bus carrying Nurmagomedov and other UFC fighters in Brooklyn earlier that year.

By fight week, the animosity was unlike anything the UFC had seen before.

The promotion marketed the event with three simple words: “The World Is Watching.”

It wasn’t hyperbole.

UFC 229 reportedly generated an estimated 2.4 million pay-per-view buys, smashing the promotion’s previous record of 1.65 million set by McGregor’s rematch with Nate Diaz at UFC 202.

The event also attracted 20,034 fans to T-Mobile Arena and generated more than $17.1 million in ticket revenue, both UFC records in Las Vegas at the time.

Khabib Dominates McGregor

After months of trash talk, it was Nurmagomedov who did most of the talking inside the Octagon.

Khabib imposed his trademark wrestling from the opening round before producing one of the most memorable moments of the fight in the second when the grappling specialist shocked McGregor by dropping him with a huge right hand.

McGregor enjoyed more success on the feet in the third, but he couldn’t keep Nurmagomedov away from him for long.

Khabib dragged the Irishman back to the canvas in the fourth, took his back and forced him to tap to a neck crank at 3:03 of the round, successfully defending his lightweight title for the first time.

The rivalry should have ended there.

Instead, absolute chaos followed.

The Brawl That Shocked The World

Seconds after submitting McGregor, Nurmagomedov climbed over the Octagon fence and launched himself into the crowd towards McGregor teammate Dillon Danis.

A mass brawl erupted.

Members of Nurmagomedov’s team entered the Octagon, where further fighting broke out with McGregor. Security and officials desperately attempted to restore order as one of the biggest nights in UFC history descended into mayhem.

The situation was considered so volatile that Nurmagomedov wasn’t presented with his championship belt inside the Octagon. Both fighters were instead escorted backstage before Bruce Buffer could officially announce the result.

It was an extraordinary ending to an extraordinary rivalry.

Eight Years Later, Nothing Has Come Close

UFC 229 wasn’t necessarily the greatest fight in MMA history.

It didn’t need to be.

The spectacle surrounding Khabib versus McGregor was unlike anything the sport had experienced before, and the estimated 2.4 million PPV buys remain the UFC record eight years later.

McGregor would continue fighting, while Nurmagomedov successfully defended his title against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje before retiring undefeated at 29-0.

The rematch fans desperately wanted never happened.

Perhaps that’s part of the reason UFC 229 remains so fascinating.

There was only one Khabib versus McGregor fight.

Russia versus Ireland. Two completely different personalities. Two fan bases. Genuine hatred. A world championship. A submission. A riot.

And 2.4 million buys.

Eight years later, Khabib vs McGregor remains the biggest PPV event in UFC history.