Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor are two of the biggest superstars in mixed martial arts, and their rivalry is etched in sporting history. McGregor challenged Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title in the main event of UFC 229, and this article explores the details of the historic fight and its record-breaking pay-per-view sales.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor
The rivalry between Nurmagomedov and McGregor reached its peak when McGregor attacked Nurmagomedov’s team bus in April 2018, provoked by Nurmagomedov intimidating his teammate Artem Lobov. After overcoming legal and organizational hurdles, Dana White announced that Nurmagomedov would fight McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 6, 2018.
The Fight
With intense pre-fight press conferences filled with personal insults from McGregor, the two fighters faced off in front of a capacity crowd. McGregor started strong in the first round with his aggressive southpaw stance, but Nurmagomedov’s grappling skills posed constant threats. McGregor weathered the storm in the first round but was dropped in the second round and endured brutal ground-and-pound shots.
In the third round, McGregor rallied back, displaying sharp striking and crisp movements. However, Nurmagomedov persisted with takedown attempts and successfully took McGregor down in the fourth round. Nurmagomedov locked McGregor in a vice-like neck crank, forcing him to tap out.
PPV Sales
Following UFC 229, both Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov earned their largest UFC paychecks to date. McGregor reportedly made $3 million in disclosed salary, while Nurmagomedov reportedly earned $2 million.
The event set a milestone in pay-per-view sales, surpassing 2.4 million buys, making it the highest-grossing MMA event ever. It also established the record for Nevada’s highest-ever mixed martial arts attendance and live gate, generating $17.2 million in live gate earnings.
Conclusion
UFC 229 marked the return of Conor McGregor, the company’s biggest box office draw. He challenged Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight title that McGregor had won from Eddie Alvarez two years earlier but was stripped of for not defending it. The fight between McGregor and Nurmagomedov stands as one of the most iconic title fights in the history of the sport.
Watch the full fight below:
