A lightweight title bout between undefeated Russian contender Khabib Nurmagomedov and streaking division contender Al Iaquinta featured as the main event of tonight’s UFC 223 fight card in Brooklyn, New York.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s wrestling game is already super legendary, and that’s what he used to dominate Iaquinta and punish him with relentless ground and pound. Iaquinta worked to stand back up but every time Khabib would pull him back to the canvas.
Iaquinta got the best chance came in the third round and fourth rounds when the fight stayed on the feet. In between rounds, Khabib’s coach told him to get back to the wrestling, but due to fatigue and tiredness, the fight remained standing.
In halfway to round five, agitated Nurmagomedov shifted into overdrive, moving forward with kicks and flying knees before finally clinching another takedown. Khabib attack Al battered him for a couple min. In the end, Iaquinta was too tough to finish, the fight goes to judges, which is 50-44, 50-43 & 50-43 for Nurmagomedov.
The victory makes Khabib Nurmagomedov the UFC lightweight champion, a crown that belonged to Conor McGregor right up until the moment Nurmagomedov announced the winner.
Check out the highlights below:
Khabib gets the takedown, but Iaquinta gets back to his feet! #UFC223 pic.twitter.com/6GVULPzrcI
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2018
Khabib flattens out Iaquinta and starts landing hard shots, but @AlIaquinta gets out of it and survives the round! #UFC223 pic.twitter.com/RdADBUetuN
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2018
OHH! @AlIaquinta lands big shots on Khabib in round 3!! #UFC223 pic.twitter.com/KJyHvmY9J6
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2018
Last round:
5 rounds for 15lbs of gold#UFC223 pic.twitter.com/qWzi4RgUWn
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2018
Post-fight speech:
– GSP fight in November
– Iaquinta's a real gangster
– Where's the chickenThat's a lot of information to digest, @TeamKhabib #UFC223 pic.twitter.com/N9wS1fpkJy
— UFC (@ufc) April 8, 2018