Khabib Nurmagomedov became the UFC’s new lightweight champion tonight at UFC 223
Khabib wins the lightweight title after a dominant unanimous decision win over Al Iaquinta in Brooklyn, New York.
After the numerous changes to the UFC 223 main event, New York’s own Al Iaquinta was set to fight on just a day’s notice. The upset bid by Iaquinta in front of his home fans in Brooklyn was ultimately stuffed out by Nurmagomedov, who won a lopsided decision by winning both the wrestling and striking exchanges.
Official result: Khabib Nurmagomedov def. Al Iaquinta by unanimous decision (50-44, 50-43, 50-43) to become the UFC lightweight champion
Iaquinta has to be commended for going the distance but Khabib was too much for him to handle, and the lightweight belt now reside with Nurmagomedov.
His prolonged willingness to strike also provided a glimpse into what a fight with Conor McGregor may look like, and presumably many will see flaws in Khabib’s defense that McGregor can exploit.
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
Al Iaquinta proved to be a very tough opponent, but it was still no match for Khabib.
Here is how the MMA community reacted to tonight’s main event:
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— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) April 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/aaronbronsteter/status/982851191544668161
Good Fight Al… @ALIAQUINTA Way To Represent The #TUFGuys #ufc223 @ufc @joerogan @danawhite
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 8, 2018
Khabib Nurmagomedov is your new undisputed UFC lightweight champion with a unanimous decision win at #UFC223
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) April 8, 2018
Khabib Nurmagomedov calls out Georges St-Pierre for November in New York. Yowza. #UFC223
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) April 8, 2018
Khabib: Where’s Conor? You want to fight with bus? Iaquinta is real Brooklyn gangster.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 8, 2018
What did you think of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s title winning performance at UFC 223 in Brooklyn, NY?
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