Top 10 Biggest Fights in UFC History
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has witnessed numerous epic battles that captured the attention of millions of fans worldwide. Here are the top 10 highest pay-per-view (PPV) selling fights in UFC history, featuring some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement: All the details
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a name that resonates with greatness in the world of MMA. Following his retirement, Nurmagomedov was widely regarded as the greatest lightweight fighter in MMA history and one of the all-time UFC champions. This article explores the remarkable career of ‘The Eagle,’ his retirement, and the reasons behind his decision. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Career Competing in the UFC’s lightweight division, Khabib Nurmagomedov held the lightweight championship from April 2018 to March 2021, establishing himself as the longest-reigning champion in the promotion’s history. Having secured two Combat Sambo World Championships, Nurmagomedov made his professional MMA debut at the age of 20 in September 2008 at CSFU: Champions League. After an undefeated record of 16-0 in the national MMA circuit, he signed a multi-fight contract with the UFC in 2011. Nurmagomedov’s promotional debut took place in January 2012 against Kamal Shalorus at UFC on FX 1, where he emerged victorious with a third-round submission. Following an impressive nine-fight undefeated streak, ‘The Eagle’ challenged Al Iaquinta for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 223 and secured a unanimous decision victory. The most notable moment in Nurmagomedov’s career came at UFC 229 when he defended his title against Conor ‘The Notorious’ McGregor, in what became the highest-selling pay-per-view event in UFC history. He further defended his title against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. His Retirement Khabib Nurmagomedov defended his lightweight title for the final time against Justin Gaethje at UFC 253 in October 2020, winning by second-round submission. During a post-fight interview in the octagon, Nurmagomedov announced his retirement and hung up his gloves. In an emotional speech, he revealed the reason behind his decision. The passing of his father, the legendary Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, in July 2020 had a profound impact on him. Nurmagomedov made a promise to his mother that he would not continue fighting without his father’s presence, and thus chose to retire in honor of that promise. Retiring with an unparalleled record of 29-0, Khabib Nurmagomedov is regarded as one of the UFC’s most accomplished fighters. In recognition of his achievements, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in June 2022. Legacy Khabib Nurmagomedov’s accomplishments in the UFC are truly remarkable. Despite competing only 13 times in the promotion, he defeated notable opponents such as Rafael Dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. Throughout his career, Nurmagomedov achieved superstardom and participated in the highest-selling pay-per-view event in UFC history. He also set and broke numerous promotional records. Conclusion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s impact on the sport of MMA is undeniable. He solidified his status as one of the sport’s biggest superstars, headlining the highest-selling pay-per-view event in UFC history and leaving an indelible mark on the promotion. Nurmagomedov’s legacy as a legend in the sport will endure for years to come. Watch Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC highlight reel below:
Why did Khabib Nurmagomedov retire?
Khabib Nurmagomedov is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the UFC and holds the distinction of being the greatest lightweight champion in the organization. This article explores the career of this UFC legend and examines the reasons behind his decision to retire after a successful career spanning over a decade. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Career Khabib Nurmagomedov, a two-time Combat Sambo World Champion, made his professional MMA debut at the age of 20 in September 2008 against Vusal Bayramov at CSFU: Champions League. After building an undefeated record of 16-0 in the Russian MMA circuit, Nurmagomedov signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC in 2011. He made a memorable entrance into the UFC with a third-round submission victory over Kamal Shalorus at UFC on FX 1 in January 2012. Following an impressive nine-fight winning streak, Nurmagomedov faced Al Iaquinta for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 223, winning the fight via unanimous decision and capturing the lightweight gold. Nurmagomedov gained widespread recognition for defending his title against Conor McGregor at UFC 229, which became the highest-selling pay-per-view event in UFC history, recording 2.4 million pay-per-view buys. He successfully defended his title two more times against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. Reasons for Retirement After his victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020, where he won by second-round submission, Khabib Nurmagomedov utilized his post-fight interview to announce his retirement. He placed his gloves in the center of the cage, symbolizing the end of his remarkable career, and delivered an emotional speech explaining his decision. The passing of Nurmagomedov’s father, the legendary coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, in July 2020 had a profound impact on him. His father had always been in his corner during fights, and in his post-fight speech, Khabib Nurmagomedov revealed that he made a promise to his mother not to continue fighting without his father’s presence. He chose to retire in order to honor that promise. Legacy Khabib Nurmagomedov’s accomplishments in the UFC are truly remarkable. Despite having fought only 13 times in the organization, the Dagestani grappling maestro defeated notable fighters such as Rafael Dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje during his active career. Throughout his career, Nurmagomedov became one of the biggest stars in the sport and was part of the highest-selling pay-per-view event in UFC history. He also set and broke multiple promotional records during his time in the UFC. Conclusion While some fans may argue that Khabib Nurmagomedov retired too early, his impact on the sport is undeniable. He introduced Sambo to the world and brought the Soviet fighting style into the spotlight. Following his retirement in October 2020, Nurmagomedov established his own MMA promotion, Eagle FC. He has since become an active coach at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) under the guidance of head coach Javier Mendez. Nurmagomedov continues to coach and corner fighters, including current UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and top-ranked middleweight contender Belal Muhammad. Watch Khabib Nurmagomedov’s last fight below:
When did Khabib Nurmagomedov retire?
Khabib Nurmagomedov is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in the history of MMA, with many considering him the best lightweight ever. This article explores the career of the UFC legend and focuses on his retirement after more than a decade of competing in the sport. Competing in the UFC’s lightweight division, Nurmagomedov became the longest-reigning champion, holding the title from April 2018 to March 2021. With an impressive undefeated record of 29-0, he retired from the sport and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in June 2022. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Career Khabib Nurmagomedov, a two-time Combat Sambo World Champion, made his professional MMA debut in September 2008 against Vusal Bayramov at CSFU: Champions League. After amassing a 16-0 record in the Russian MMA circuit, Nurmagomedov signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC in 2011. In January 2012, the Dagestani grappling expert made his UFC debut against Kamal Shalorus at UFC on FX 1, securing a third-round submission victory. He went on an impressive nine-fight winning streak before facing Al Iaquinta for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 223, where he won by unanimous decision. Nurmagomedov famously defended his title against Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in what became the UFC’s most high-profile main event. He continued his successful title defenses against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Retirement After defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October 2020 with a second-round submission, Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement in the post-fight octagon interview. He symbolically laid his gloves down in the center of the cage, marking the end of his remarkable career. Nurmagomedov cited his promise to his mother as the reason for retiring. He had pledged not to continue fighting without his late father, legendary coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, who passed away in July 2020. Legacy Despite having only fought in the UFC 13 times, Khabib Nurmagomedov is unquestionably one of the greatest fighters to have stepped into the octagon. The Dagestani grappling maestro showcased dominant performances against notable fighters such as Rafael Dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, Al Iaquinta, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje. Throughout his career, Nurmagomedov became one of the biggest stars in the sport and headlined the UFC’s highest-selling pay-per-view event. He also set and broke multiple promotional records during his time in the UFC. Conclusion While some fans may argue that Khabib Nurmagomedov retired prematurely, his impact on the sport and his influence on the Dagestani fighting style is unparalleled. Although he has not returned to the cage, Nurmagomedov has ventured into launching his own MMA promotion, Eagle FC. He continues to coach and frequently appears as a cornerman for his fighters, including UFC stars like Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov. Watch Khabib Nurmagomedov’s last fight below:
How many PPVs did Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor sell?
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:
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor: Recapping the highest-selling UFC PPV
In the chaotic world of MMA, rivalries often define eras, and few have been as volatile and explosive as the rivalry between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov in the UFC. This article provides an in-depth look at their highly anticipated fight and the historic pay-per-view event it generated. Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor: The Build-Up The rivalry between McGregor and Nurmagomedov reached its boiling point when McGregor attacked Nurmagomedov’s team bus after UFC 223 in response to an altercation involving Nurmagomedov and McGregor’s teammate Artem Lobov. This incident set the stage for their highly anticipated clash. Months later, in October 2018, Dana White announced that McGregor and Nurmagomedov would settle their differences inside the octagon at UFC 229. The event took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the two superstars fighting for the lightweight belt. Their title fight became the biggest and most highly anticipated main event in UFC history. The Historic Fight Conor McGregor started the fight strong, showcasing his aggressive southpaw stance in the opening rounds. However, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s exceptional grappling skills posed constant threats to McGregor. The Irishman weathered the storm in the first round, but in the second round, the relentless Dagestani dropped McGregor and delivered brutal ground-and-pound shots until the bell rang. In the third round, McGregor rallied back, displaying sharp striking and crisp movements. However, Nurmagomedov persisted with takedown attempts, and in the fourth round, he successfully took McGregor down. Nurmagomedov locked McGregor in a vice-like neck crank, forcing McGregor to tap out. The Aftermath and Legacy The fight’s aftermath was marred by a brawl between the two camps. Nurmagomedov, immediately after his victory, leapt over the cage to attack McGregor’s teammate Dillon Danis, leading to a chaotic free-for-all. Both fighters faced suspensions and fines from the Nevada Athletic State Commission as a result. Both Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov received the highest-ever paydays in MMA history for their participation in the UFC 229 event. McGregor reportedly earned $3 million in disclosed salary, while Nurmagomedov earned $2 million. With over 2.4 million pay-per-view buys, UFC 229 remains the highest-grossing MMA event to date. It also set the record for the highest-ever mixed martial arts attendance and live gate in Nevada, earning $17.2 million in live gate earnings. Conclusion Khabib Nurmagomedov, widely regarded as the most dominant lightweight champion ever, retired from the sport two years after his iconic battle against Conor McGregor. While McGregor may have lost some of his aura of invincibility, the financial gains from the event more than compensated for it. The event holds a special place in the hearts of MMA fans worldwide and will continue to do so for years to come. Watch the full fight below:
