Tag: UFC 254

Conor McGregor’s classy message to Khabib Nurmagomedov after his retirement announcement

This was a nice gesture.

Khabib Nurmagomedov improved to 29-0 with a second-round submission of Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi and then announced his retirement from the sport in an emotional post-fight interview inside the Octagon.

It was a stunning move by the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world, who explained that his mother doesn’t want him to fight anymore since the death of his dad and longtime coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

Conor McGregor has taken a lot of shots at Khabib the past few years and the two had an all-out brawl after their fight at UFC 229 in 2018.

But McGregor took a moment Saturday to offer a classy reaction to Khabib’s retirement announcement:

McGregor had long been pushing for a rematch with Nurmagomedov but now that’s not going to happen.

What a career for Khabib, who will be missed from the fight game.

UFC fighters react to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s stunning retirement after UFC 254 win

Khabib Nurmagomedov finishes his career with a perfect 29-0 record.

Khabib Nurmagomedov choked out Justin Gaethje in the second round of their title fight at UFC 254 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi and then he got choked up afterward and announced his retirement from the UFC.

Nurmagomedov, who broke down in tears right after the fight, was fighting for the first time since the death of his father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov in July. His dad was his longtime coach and a legend in the fight game.

Khabib explained that his mother didn’t want him to fight without his father by his side but that he needed to wrap up his business with Gaethje before calling it quits.

Here’s his post-fight interview in which he made the announcement:

He put his gloves down in the Octagon as a symbol of his retirement:

UFC fighters and fans had reactions:

Khabib Nurmagomedov dominates Justin Gaethje, retires after UFC 254 submission win

In an emotional scene, Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement following his UFC 254 victory over Justin Gaethje.

[autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] did what he’s always done in the octagon on Saturday night, winning for the 29th time in 29 career fights by finishing [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] in the main event of UFC 254.

But the drama wasn’t finished with the second-round technical submission. The UFC lightweight champion, who lost his father, Abdulmanap, to complications related to COVID-19 in June, broke down in tears in the middle of the octagon after the fight, then announced his retirement and laid his gloves down in the middle of the mat.

“Today I want to say it was my last fight. No way I’m gonna come here without my father,” Nurmagomedov said. “It was first time after what happened with my father. When UFC called me with Justin, I talked with my mother three days. She don’t (want me) to go fight without father, but I promised her it’s gonna be my last fight. And if I give my word, I have to follow this.”

The highly anticipated fight at Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi appeared to be settling into a long and competitive scrap. Gaethje (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) who had won four consecutive bouts to get into this spot, used a lower than normal stance to try to deflect Nurmagomedov’s takedowns. He even successfully sprawled the first attempt.

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Gaethje landed several of his trademark low kicks and a few of his heavy overhands, but Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) was up to the task in the standup, as he fared well confronting Gaethje’s strong point. A low double-leg led to a takedown in the round’s final moment and foreshadowed the finish.

Gaethje had just landed a wicked blast of a low kick, to which Nurmagomedov visibly reacted, and it seemed things were on. But that’s when Nurmagomedov finished in the blink of an eye, scoring another takedown and quickly turning it into a triangle choke. Gaethje went out after his tap was missed by the referee, and Nurmagomedov had his third straight successful title defense.

If his retirement holds, Nurmagomedov’s career finishes with 13 straight UFC wins, three shy of Anderson Silva’s record streak. It was his 11th career submission to go with eight knockouts and 10 decisions.

“As soon as the fight was over, I just went and told him that he made his father so proud,” Gaethje said. “And he did.”

All three of Gaethje’s career losses have been via finish.

The lightweight title unification bout was the UFC 254 main event at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Complete UFC 254 results:

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Khabib Nurmagomedov collapsed in tears after beating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254

What an emotional moment for the champ.

Khabib Nurmagomedov needed less than two rounds to choke out Justin Gaethje and retain his lightweight belt with another convincing win at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

And as soon as it was over the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world collapsed in the Octagon and let the tears flow in an emotional moment that was very touching.

He then later announced his retirement, too.

Nurmagomedov’s dad and longtime coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov died in July and this was the first time Khabib fought without his dad by his side. He said after the fight that this would be his last fight, that his mom didn’t watnt him fighting without his father by his side and that he’s going to retire.

Here’s his emotional moment after the fight:

All the respect goes to Khabib, who was a great champion and one of the best fighters we’ve ever seen.

Here he is announcing his retirement:

He will be missed.

 

UFC 254 results: Robert Whittaker outlasts Jared Cannonier in hard-hitting scrap

Robert Whittaker is right back in the hunt for the UFC middleweight title after an impressive victory over Jared Cannonier.

UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya had marked [autotag]Jared Cannonier[/autotag] as his next challenger, so long as he defeated [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] at UFC 254.

But Whittaker (22-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) had something to say about that in Saturday’s co-main event. The former UFC middleweight champ scored an impressive victory in a compelling scrap at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, earning 29-28 scores across the board.

That gives Whittaker two straight wins since losing the title to Adesanya at UFC 242 and 11 wins in his past 12 fights dating back to 2014.

Cannonier (13-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) relied heavily on punishing leg kicks in his rise thought the 185-pound division, and he announced his intentions early as he briefly dropped Whittaker with an outside leg kick in one of the fight’s first exchanges.

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But while Cannonier beat Whittaker’s legs raw with kicks, Whittaker is one of the game’s toughest customers, and he took the shots and kept moving forward. Whittaker’s left jab is one of the most powerful and efficient in MMA, and he found a home with them early and often, then followed up with straight rights whenever the opportunity presented itself.

The fight’s first two rounds continued in this manner, with Cannonier throwing kicks, but Whittaker throwing punches at a higher volume. And while it felt like something near a stalemate over the first round and a half, by the midway point of Round 2, Cannonier’s right eye began to swell, and Whittaker seemed to have more in the tank.

This was affirmed in the third when Whittaker landed a combo, then dropped Cannonier with a head kick that would have finished many foes. Cannonier managed to fight through the ensuing flurry and get back to his feet. He also seemed to recognize he needed a finish, as he picked up the pace over the remainder of the round, but Whittaker answered right back and never gave Cannonier the opportunity for a home run shot.

The middleweight bout was the UFC 254 co-main event at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 254 results:

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UFC 254 results: Alexander Volkov stops Walt Harris with body kick

Alexander Volkov lived up to his promise to get back on track on Saturday when he finished Walt Harris at UFC 254.

[autotag]Alexander Volkov[/autotag] lived up to his promise to get back on track Saturday when he finished [autotag]Walt Harris[/autotag] at UFC 254.

Volkov’s (32-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC) striking accuracy proved to be the difference in his comeback from a one-sided main event loss to Curtis Blaydes earlier this year. Volkov landed a precision body kick on Harris (13-9 MMA, 6-8 UFC) to end the fight at the 1:15 mark of Round 2.

The heavyweight bout was part of the UFC 254 main card at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

Harris loaded up behind heavy strikes to start but showed a speed advantage. Volkov measured his range, looking to counter the offense of his foe. Volkov’s jab proved to be an effective weapon early, as were his multi-strike combinations to slow the output of Harris. “The Big Ticket” picked it up in the final half of the frame, trying to mix in punches against the body and leg kicks. Volkov stung Harris with a clean shot late in the round, forcing him to back up toward the fence. Harris fired back, but the late exchange cost him the round.

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With Volkov confident going into the second, Harris attempted to turn the tide with a takedown. It was easily defended, and Harris was forced into a stand-up fight. Volkov landed a big front kick that connected clean to the body of Harris. He immediately turtled up, and Volkov attacked with a few more punches until the referee stepped in.

“I proved I will be here for a long time,” Volkov said in his post-fight interview with Jon Anik. “I’m going for the title. Alistair Overeem, (Junior) Dos Santos or (Jairzinho) Rozenstruik. Anyone who can take me back to the belt.”

Up-to-the-minute UFC 254 results:

Lauren Murphy dominates, finishes and then uses her mic time perfectly at UFC 254

Lauren Murphy is on a roll and feeling like her time has finally come.

[autotag]Lauren Murphy[/autotag] is on a roll and feeling like her time has finally come.

Murphy won her fourth consecutive fight Saturday at UFC 254 when she submitted Liliya Shakirova in the second round of their women’s flyweight bout at Flash Forum in Abu Dhabi.

Murphy (14-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) basically had her way with Shakirova, picking her apart for most of the fight. Then when she got the opportunity late in the second round, Murphy sunk in a rear-naked choke for her first career win by submission.

It was a nearly flawless performance for Murphy, who is 5-1 since moving down to 125 pounds in December 2017. Afterward, she spoke with confidence about her growth and abilities, and then made a bold promise on the mic with Jon Anik.

“Listen to me,” Murphy said. “The next time I step into this cage, it will be to fight for the UFC belt. The next time I step out of it, I will be wearing it. I promise.”

Murphy, 37, originally was supposed to fight No. 4 Cynthia Calvillo at UFC 254, but Calvillo was forced to withdraw last week when she tested positive for COVID-19. Perhaps that fight still needs to happen to settle the No. 1 contender, but it’s hard to argue with Murphy after a performance like that.

Next month, Valentina Shevchenko will defend her title against Jennifer Maia at UFC 255. Perhaps if Shevchenko wins, she could make that decision for the UFC? We shall see.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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