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<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="8056965" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="edson-barboza">Edson Barboza</keyword> produced a memorable finish Saturday at <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> 262.</li><li>After a high-octane battle, Barboza smacked <keyword id="11270897" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="shane-burgos">Shane Burgos</keyword> with a one-two sequence in the third round.</li><li>See Burgos go through a delayed reaction to the knockout blows right here.</li></ul><a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> veteran Edson Barboza scored a bizarre knockout when his opponent went down six seconds after getting hit.Barboza beat Shane Burgos in the third round of a high-octane featherweight fight, closing the show with a punch to the head from range."I came prepared for war, and it was a war," Barboza said in a post-fight statement sent to Insider. "Every time I step in the octagon, everybody expects a war. I was ready for it."More than 16,000 fans watched at the Toyota Center in Houston, as the fighters combined to throw 371 strikes in the entire fight, with Barboza landing more in rounds one and three.In the third and final round, Barboza clattered Burgos with a one-two punch combination.Though his head rocked back with each stinging strike, Burgos reset his feet and shimmied forward as if he had shaken off the damage and was ready to throw back.But that's when things got weird. He took multiple steps back in retreat, crashed into the fence, and was clearly done for the night.Watch the finish right here (skip to the 5:25 mark):Speaking afterwards, Barboza said: "I said this would be one of the best performances in my career and it was, if not the best - 145-pounds is my division, it's where I'm comfortable at."The strange way the fight ended was "kind of crazy," he added."I honestly didn't really understand what happened at the time. After the fight was over, I was still moving forward and saw that he was dropping. I saw he couldn't defend himself, but I didn't understand what happened."With victory, Barboza advanced his pro <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> record to 22 wins (13 knockouts, one submission, and eight decisions) against nine losses."I just want to continue climbing the ranking," he said. "I beat two top 10 [guys] so I'm going up, and I'm getting closer to my goal to be the champion."

UFC veteran Edson Barboza scored a bizarre knockout when his opponent went down 6 seconds after getting hit

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13692662" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="charles-jourdain" source="Orion">Charles Jourdain</keyword> won his <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> match Saturday when he made Lando Vannata tap with a rare finish.</li><li>The 26-year-old <keyword id="11922276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma" source="Orion">MMA</keyword> fighter submitted Vannata with a one-armed guillotine choke from bottom guard.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — A 26-year-old fighter stunned the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> world when he finished a fight with a one-armed guillotine choke from bottom guard Saturday during the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a>'s 13-bout fight card that took place at the Apex in Las Vegas.Meet Charles Jourdain — a Canadian combatant who only won the decision of his career in his last match, when he outpointed Andre Ewell during a Fight Night event in December 2021.Speaking to Insider and other reporters at UFC HQ earlier this week, Jourdain said he regards that decision as a near finish as he could tell he had wrecked Ewell's world.He told us that he was desperate to win by finish this weekend, and promised to bring a violent war to the Octagon.Though Jourdain didn't get involved in a battle against Lando Vannata, he did get the finish he so desperately craved — and he did so in style as the submission was a unique one.It all began after a grappling exchange in which Jourdain chased the guillotine and tightened the chokehold with one arm, locking it in until Vannata tapped.It was a thing of beauty — and you can watch it right here:"I'm a black belt, people seem to forget, but it was a good reminder today," said Jourdain at the UFC event Insider attended.He then issued a challenge to fellow featherweight Edson Barboza, a Brazilian veteran of fighting with 33 MMA matches under his belt, with many kickboxing bouts on his record, too.Jourdain then said he "wants to die" in the Octagon. He added: "Don't worry Edson, I won't try to take you down. It'll be mano-a-mano until either you die or I die."With victory, Jourdain advanced his pro MMA record to 13 wins (eight knockouts, four submissions, and one decision) against four losses.Elsewhere on the card, MMA fighter Mike <a href="https://www.insider.com/mike-jackson-wins-ufc-match-by-dq-after-eye-gouge-2022-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jackson won a match by DQ after an eye gouge. He also got kicked in the crotch</a>.Tyson <a href="https://www.insider.com/tyson-pedro-scored-firstround-ko-after-4-years-from-ufc-2022-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pedro, meanwhile, iced Ike Villanuev with heavy shots in a first-round drubbing</a>. Later, <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-aoriqileng-gives-masterclass-in-how-to-rebound-from-defeat-2022-4">Aoriqileng gave a masterclass in how to rebound from defeat</a> as he blasted past Cameron Else.Amanda Lemos and Jessica Andrade fought in a unique, all-Brazilian women's strawweight fight at the top of the card.

A 26-year-old fighter stunned the MMA world when he finished a fight with a one-armed guillotine choke

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An American fighter is trying to use <keyword id="11928262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="conor-mcgregor" source="Orion">Conor McGregor</keyword>'s name to rattle the Nurmagomedov family.</li><li><keyword id="13174287" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="brian-kelleher" source="Orion">Brian Kelleher</keyword>'s plan spectacularly backfired, though, as McGregor did not respond.</li></ul>American <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> fighter Brian Kelleher wants <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a> to work with him so he can seemingly try and antagonize the Nurmagomedov family.Kelleher fights <keyword id="13174288" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="umar-nurmagomedov" source="Orion">Umar Nurmagomedov</keyword> in a bantamweight match March 5 during the <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> 272 event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.Umar is a cousin of <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khabib-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov</a>, the former UFC lightweight champion who retired unbeaten in 2020 having beaten a who's who of elite <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MMA</a> fighters like Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and Conor McGregor.Khabib and McGregor shared a heated rivalry after the Irishman insulted the Dagestan wrestler's background, nationality, and family, long after Nurmagomedov submitted him with a neck crank in the fourth round."Hey, would you like to corner me in my next fight at UFC 272 against Khabib's cousin Umar?" <a href="https://twitter.com/brianboom135/status/1492594484680536066" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kelleher tweeted McGregor at the weekend</a>.Kelleher's plan to apparently manipulate McGregor's bad blood with the Nurmagomedov's to upset Umar spectacularly backfired.McGregor did not even respond, and Umar seemed unfazed at the prospect."It's not gonna help you, Brian," he said.Nurmagomedov and Kelleher compete on the main card of the 14-bout pay-per-view event that will be broadcast on ESPN next month.Elsewhere that night, Kevin Holland fights Alex Oliveira at welterweight, Edson Barboza fights Bryce Mitchell at featherweight, and Rafael dos Anjos fights Rafael Fiziev at lightweight.Former friends turned welterweight rivals Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal take part in a highly-anticipated main event.

An American UFC fighter wants Conor McGregor to work with him to try and antagonize the Nurmagomedov family

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11946150" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="khabib-nurmagomedov" source="Orion">Khabib Nurmagomedov</keyword> coached three victorious fighters on Saturday's UFC 267 show.</li><li>With <keyword id="12428268" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="javier-mendez" source="Orion">Javier Mendez</keyword>, he oversaw wins for <keyword id="12428270" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tagir-ulanbekov" source="Orion">Tagir Ulanbekov</keyword>, Zubaira Tukhogov, and <keyword id="12345283" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="islam-makhachev" source="Orion">Islam Makhachev</keyword>.</li></ul>ABU DHABI - <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khabib-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov</a> helped coach three fighters to victory at <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> 267 inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.Nurmagomedov's teammates, who are also overseen by American Kickboxing Academy founder Javier Mendez, include Tagir Ulanbekov, Zubaira Tukhogov, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/islam-makhachev" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Islam Makhachev</a>.All three were victorious Saturday, with Ulanbekov defeating Allan Nascimento by split decision, Tukhogov scoring a unanimous decision over Ricardo Ramos, and Makhachev weaving his MMA magic to submit Dan Hooker.The referee had to intervene in the first round of Makhachev's lightweight fight over Hooker, as the New Zealand striker refused to tap to his kimura hold, and presumably <a href="https://www.insider.com/islam-makhachev-almost-broke-dan-hookers-arm-at-ufc-267-2021-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">could have had his arm broken without action</a>.It was the same technique Nurmagomedov used to submit Michael Johnson at UFC 2015 five years ago.<h2>Unbeaten as a fighter and as a coach</h2><div type="image" title="Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates with winning MMA fighter Islam Makhachev." height="1421" width="2000" msid="87413439" hostid="261"></div>Nurmagomedov went on to build a pro MMA record of 29 wins without defeat, stopping 19 of those opponents.He defeated a gauntlet run of elite lightweights including Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje.Since retiring following his triangle choke submission over Gaethje, Nurmagomedov has followed in his late father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov's footsteps into mentoring and coaching.Like fighting, Nurmagomedov is undefeated in coaching as he moves to a 7-0 record following the UFC 267 wins.

Khabib Nurmagomedov helped coach 3 fighters to victory at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Professional fighter <keyword id="13302282" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="kevin-holland" source="Orion">Kevin Holland</keyword> has beaten up two online trolls this year.</li><li>But becoming internet-famous for that has had an adverse effect.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — American fighter <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/kevin-holland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kevin Holland</a> is known for two things — kicking ass and becoming internet-famous for beating-up online trolls.The <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> welterweight competes Saturday against Alex Oliveira at the ESPN pay-per-view <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> 272, inside the T-Mobile Arena on the Las Vegas Strip.Ahead of the big show, Holland told reporters at a media event Insider attended Wednesday that fighting trolls in his gym had an adverse effect as he's now getting even more trolls in his DMs."They start trolling even more!" he said.It's a uniquely weird phenomenon, and it seemingly all began earlier this year.<a href="https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/33188875/ufc-fighter-kevin-holland-choked-online-troll-grappling-match-more-year-harassment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESPN reported</a> in January that Holland had been receiving messages for months from Jayden Parker, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner who claimed he could submit the fighter.Finally, Holland accepted Parker's challenge. He paid for some travel expenses and invited him into his gym before promptly making him tap to a chokehold."Bottom line, people were saying things they shouldn't be saying," Holland told ESPN."And they pull up to the gym, and they finally get what they deserve. That's just how it goes. Respect is big. Respect the athlete, respect the sport, respect the people that entertain you. Simple as that."Weeks later, in mid-February, Holland took out his second internet troll with a barrage of body kicks. "Honestly, I liked this troll way more," he said at the time.Watch the beatdown right here (scroll right):But even though he dealt with these two particular trolls in public, others kept coming for him.Beating up trolls "was the wrong answer on my behalf," Holland conceded this week. "I got my work cut out for me."As for his fight this weekend, against a legitimate combatant rather than a cyberbully, Holland called Oliveira "an OG, a legend, and I'm very happy to be fighting him."He said: "I knew I had to continue working on the grappling because that's what everybody expects to be my downfall, but I also know he's a good striker."I've been watching him for a while. It kept me motivated to work that as well."Elsewhere on the main card, <a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-heavyweight-wants-to-boxing-deontay-wilder-jarrell-miller-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Greg Hardy fights Sergey Spivak at heavyweight</a>, Edson Barboza takes on fast-rising featherweight Bryce Mitchell, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/jorge-masvidal-blasted-fake-donald-trump-fan-colby-covington-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal get the chance to end their bitter rivalry</a> for good.

American fighter Kevin Holland beats the crap out of online trolls, but is being trolled harder now than ever before

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11946150" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="khabib-nurmagomedov" source="Orion">Khabib Nurmagomedov</keyword> was confirmed as a Hall of Fame fighter Saturday.</li><li>But he was "pissed off" the night he was told he'd be inducted, according to <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> boss <keyword id="12003697" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dana-white" source="Orion">Dana White</keyword>.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/khabib-nurmagomedov" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov</a> was "pissed off" on the night he got told he'd be inducted into the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> Hall of Fame later this year.The 33-year-old retired after a submission win over Justin Gaethje at a behind-closed-doors event Insider attended in October 2020.He sent the American to sleep with the chokehold, <a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-254-khabib-nurmagomedov-sent-gaethje-to-sleep-cried-retired-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped to his knees, cried in the middle of the Octagon, and gave an emotional speech</a>.It brought to an end a career in which he defeated top-tier opponents Rafael dos Anjos, Edson Barboza, <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a>, Dustin Poirier, and Gaethje — all while barely losing a round.The Hall of Fame announcement was made Saturday during the UFC 272 event that took place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, much to the surprise of fans, and even media, in attendance.A two-minute promo clip started playing on the jumbotron, and on the ESPN pay-per-view broadcast."I grew up in the mountain, I'm coming from nowhere," Nurmagomedov could be heard saying at the start of the clip.He said nobody at the time understood him, or the papakha — a wool hat from his region that he'd wear at weigh-in ceremonies."Smash everybody to 29-0. Who this guy world champion? Where he from? Dagestan. Wrestling all his life with bears. This guy crazy."In the last biggest event in UFC, I'm going to show best performance and retire undefeated, undisputed lightweight champ. Become one of the greatest lightweights of all time. This is my dream, and I follow this," he said.UFC commentator and former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping then said: "The reality is there is only one Khabib Nurmagomedov. And there may never be another one."Retired at 29-0, undefeated, undisputed, and its arguable that he never even lost a round in the UFC. For all those reasons and many more, without a shadow of a doubt, Khabib Nurmagomedov should be in the UFC Hall of Fame."<h2>According to the UFC boss Dana White, Khabib was 'pissed off' that night</h2><div type="image" title="Khabib Nurmagomedov's Hall of Fame induction this summer was confirmed at UFC 272." height="690" width="1250" msid="90062311" hostid="261"></div>Nurmagomedov was Octagonside when the promo was played.He didn't look particularly "pissed off" when the announcement itself was made, and embraced his friends and training partners like manager Ali Abdelaziz, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, and UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev.White then walked over to Nurmagomedov, and said congratulations, before Ari Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor which owns the UFC, did the same.Watch the promo here:When asked for comment regarding Nurmagomedov's reaction to the news, <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dana-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a> told Insider and reporters: "He looked pissed off tonight."White said: "He was pissed off tonight. I don't know what happened to Khabib. I kept telling him, 'What pissed you off tonight'?"There could have been a few potential reasons. Makhachev had just been denied an immediate UFC title shot and will instead have to fight Beneil Dariush.More recently, <a href="https://www.insider.com/tim-elliot-beats-tagir-ulanbekov-handing-khabib-second-coaching-loss-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tim Elliot had defeated Tagir Ulanbekov, who Nurmagomedov helps coach. The loss is Nurmagomedov's second as an MMA coach</a>.On the Elliott and Ulanbekov fight, White said: "I think that might be it, too."<a href="https://www.ufc.com/news/khabib-eagle-nurmagomedov-named-ufc-hall-fame-class-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In a separate statement, White said</a>: "Khabib is one of the greatest athletes to ever compete in professional <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword>."No one dominated their opponents that way Khabib did … it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer."The 2022 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place during International Fight Week in Las Vegas in July.

Khabib Nurmagomedov was 'pissed off' the night he was told he would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"<keyword id="1358348" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Dana-White">Dana White</keyword> privilege" is not real, Dana White claimed recently.</li><li>The concept was birthed last week when one fighter accused another of getting special treatment.</li><li>"That's the first I've heard of it, and it's hilarious," White said, before denying it exists.</li></ul>"Dana White privilege" is not a real thing but it is hilarious, <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> President <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dana-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a> told reporters at a <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> 262 press conference last week.The basic definition of the concept is when one combat athlete appears to gain preferential treatment from White, the UFC's promoter, over another.Lightweight fighter Tony Ferguson birthed the saying during a pre-fight event ahead of the UFC's big, fan-attended show at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.He accused the former three-time <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/bellator-mma" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bellator MMA</a> champion Michael Chandler of having "Dana White privilege" after Chandler was thrust into a title shot in his second bout since transferring to the UFC.Ferguson, at the peak of his powers, enjoyed a 12-fight winning run in the UFC but never walked to the Octagon as a title challenger because of various reasons including injuries, and the onset of the coronavirus pandemic."You got this s--- handed to you," Ferguson said at the media event. "You got Dana White privilege."Chandler seemed shocked at Ferguson's suggestion, while White laughed his head off.On "The Jake Asman Show," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Somhw5KbK5A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White was asked about "Dana White privilege."</a><h2>What is 'Dana White privilege'?</h2>"I don't know," White told Jake Asman. "That's the first I've heard of it, and it's hilarious."He continued: "You always have these fighters who feel, 'Oh, the company is against me, they want me to lose, they don't like me.' They're all paranoid like that."And I think these guys see Michael Chandler as the guy - you know, even if you look at [Charles] Oliveira, guy's been in the UFC for 11 years, and he's finally getting his title shot. Chandler is getting it this quick. Everything in life is about timing, and timing has definitely worked out for Michael Chandler."Asman went on to ask White if the "privilege" is real"No. I don't think it's a real thing, but I think that fighters think that it's a real thing. I think that they think that I have my favorites, and I'm assuming they think that Michael Chandler is one of my new favorites."<div type="image" title="Charles Oliveira wins UFC title" height="1000" width="2000" msid="82706318" hostid="261"></div>Chandler lost the UFC title fight to Oliveira in the UFC 262 main event - a fight which he could have won in the opening round, but failed to make his advantages at the time count.Oliveira rebounded, in style, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-charles-oliveira-finishes-michael-chandler-in-classic-title-fight-2021-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scored a second-round finish in a lightweight bout for the ages</a>.Elsewhere on the same card, the UFC veteran <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-edson-barboza-thumped-opponent-took-6-seconds-to-fall-2021-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Edson Barboza scored a bizarre knockout when his opponent went down six seconds after getting hit</a>.The American fighter <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-jordan-wright-seals-64-second-knockout-win-at-ufc262-2021-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jordan Wright chased his opponent around the cage while spamming him with an array of strikes</a>.And the <keyword id="6403489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="mma">MMA</keyword> legend <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-andre-muniz-breaks-ronaldo-souzas-arm-during-submission-win-2021-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ronaldo Souza broke his arm when UFC fighter Andre Muniz secured an unforgettable but brutal submission</a>.

'Dana White privilege' is not a real thing but it is hilarious, UFC boss Dana White says

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9054110" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="justin-gaethje">Justin Gaethje</keyword> could drop <keyword id="5616915" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Tony-Ferguson">Tony Ferguson</keyword> in Saturday's lightweight fight in Florida according to a former <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> champion.</li><li>The two UFC stars are the main event attraction at a behind-closed-doors event on May 9.</li><li><keyword id="3844781" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="luke-rockhold">Luke Rockhold</keyword> told Insider that Gaethje "throws to kill" and hits harder than people who have already dropped Ferguson.</li><li>Saturday's winner could challenge Rockhold's gym-mate Khabib Nurmagomedov later in the year. "Both present so many options and problems for Khabib," he said.</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Justin Gaethje is the hardest puncher in the lightweight division, "throws to kill," and has the ability to floor Tony Ferguson in the <keyword id="9035179" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc-249">UFC 249</keyword> main event on Saturday, May 9.That is the opinion of former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, who told Insider this week that while Ferguson has developed so much as a mixed martial artist, he has been dropped by lesser punchers than Gaethje, and could therefore be dropped once again."Tony has grown so much as a fighter," Rockhold said, one week before the May 16 release of a movie in which he stars — "Cagefighter: Worlds Collide" — on Fite. "He's so wild, unpredictable … [but] Justin throws to kill."A 31-year-old American with a collegiate wrestling background, Gaethje most commonly guns for a stoppage by knockout rather than submission and has finished 18 opponents this way, compared to one submission and two decisions out of 21 wins in total.He fights at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville on Saturday riding a three-fight win streak — all by knockout via punches — against James Vick in 2018 then Edson Barboza and Donald Cerrone, both in 2019."If he lands … well, he hits harder probably than anybody in that division that Tony's really fought," Rockhold told Insider. "[And] we've seen Tony get dropped by lesser punchers."UFC 249 was originally supposed to take place on April 18 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, with one of Rockhold's gym-mates at the American Kickboxing Academy, Khabib Nurmagomedov, defending his UFC lightweight championship against Ferguson.With the New York event nixed because of the worsening spread of COVID-19 and it unclear if or when the show could go on as planned elsewhere, Nurmagomedov returned to Russia and then could not leave as the country went into its own coronavirus-enforced lockdown.White then recruited Gaethje to replace Nurmagomedov for a mysterious event on Native American land in California on the same date, but after <a href="https://www.insider.com/restarting-ufc-during-a-pandemic-is-expensive-dana-white-says-2020-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mounting political pressure from California gov Gavin Newsom, Disney, which owns UFC's broadcast partner ESPN, ordered UFC president Dana White to stop</a> his event.After rescheduling UFC 249 for May 9 in Florida, the Ferguson vs. Gaethje fight is finally going ahead as planned. The winner could even challenge Nurmagomedov for the title later in the year."We anticipated that fight for so long, hoping it's to be," Rockhold told us. "[But] whether it's Tony or whether it's Justin … you're going to get a helluva fight [against Nurmagomedov]."Both present so many options and problems for Khabib," he said. "So I'm excited to see whatever happens in general, it's wild, anything can happen."Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/jacare-souza-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-ufc-249-fight-canceled-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3 people test positive for COVID-19 ahead of UFC 249. One said he was desperate for money because his family might end up homeless.</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-texts-dana-white-wanting-to-fight-on-fight-island-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor texted the UFC boss Dana White saying he's desperate to fight on 'Fight Island'</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/we-counted-18-safety-measures-in-place-for-ufc-249-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We counted 18 safety measures the UFC has in place for UFC 249, and people have already been filmed getting swabs for COVID-19</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-middleweight-luke-rockhold-said-he-kicked-a-sketchy-woman-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A former UFC champion said he front-kicked a 'sketchy' woman in LA because she tried to spit on him after running 'like a zombie'</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/sergio-moraes-coronavirus-more-aggressive-than-any-ufc-opponent-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A former UFC athlete said beating the coronavirus was far more 'aggressive' than any opponent he fought in his career</a>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.insider.com/who-wins-ufc-249-justin-gaethje-big-puncher-tony-ferguson-2020-5">Insider</a>

Tony Ferguson warned ahead of UFC 249 that Justin Gaethje 'throws to kill'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Three fighters who are competing on the <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword>'s "<keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">Fight Island</keyword>" this week told Insider they're unfazed about fighting in the middle of a global pandemic.</li><li>The <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> forced <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> to shut down in the middle of March, but the UFC was the first major organization to return when it restarted operations mid-May.</li><li>The second of four "Fight Island" events takes place Wednesday, with a stacked card including a bout that one analyst says could be the fight of the year.</li><li><keyword id="9581216" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dan-ige">Dan Ige</keyword>, who fights <keyword id="9197019" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="calvin-kattar">Calvin Kattar</keyword> in that bout, has already fought once during the pandemic, and said that experience was "eerie," but ultimately fine.</li><li>Kattar, who also fought in mid-May, commended the UFC president <keyword id="1358348" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Dana-White">Dana White</keyword> for having balls big enough to bring mixed martial arts events back safely.</li><li>Wednesday's event will be the UFC's 10th of the pandemic era.</li></ul>FIGHT ISLAND — Two athletes competing against each other in an upcoming UFC main event said they've had no concerns about training, traveling, and fighting during the global health crisis.The UFC continually improves its coronavirus protocols so it can hold combat sports events safely, the featherweight rivals Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige told Insider ahead of their <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/fight-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Fight Island"</a> match in Abu Dhabi Wednesday.The world's major sports leagues and organizations shut down from mid-March, but the UFC tried to restart operations one month later. This was not without criticism at the time.The UFC intended to hold <a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-cancels-controversial-ufc-249-event-because-of-covid-19-2020-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC 249, a big, pay-per-view show, on Native American land at the Tachi Palace</a> so it could circumvent governmental restrictions on distancing and lockdowns in April.But a phone call from the "powers that be" at Disney, which owns the UFC's broadcast partner ESPN, nixed the MMA fight firm's plans. It was later reported that the California governor <a href="https://www.insider.com/restarting-ufc-during-a-pandemic-is-expensive-dana-white-says-2020-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gavin Newsom requested Disney's intervention</a>.The UFC then proceeded with three behind-closed doors event at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville from mid-May, as Florida deemed sports an essential business.Though the fights themselves were high on quality, particularly <a href="https://www.insider.com/justin-gaethje-tortured-tony-ferguson-5-rounds-at-ufc-249-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justin Gaethje's devastating fifth round stoppage win over Tony Ferguson</a>, the UFC was <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/12/sports/coronavirus-ufc.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rebuked by the New York Times</a>.The paper said that the enforcement of its own safety procedures was "spotty," as there "were interviews in the Octagon, a lack of social distancing, and missing masks."Kattar and Ige fought separate matches during the UFC's residency in Jacksonville, and though it was described as an unusual experience to fight behind-closed doors, neither felt like they were ever doing anything wrong.Ige, who out-pointed Edson Barboza on May 16, told us: "I supported it. I thought the UFC did everything right [with] the right steps, the right protocols, and they gave us an opportunity because that's how we make money and that's how we put food on our tables."<a href="https://www.insider.com/watch-calvin-kattar-brutal-elbow-ko-win-over-jeremy-stephens-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kattar destroyed Jeremy Stephens with a brutal knockout from elbow strikes</a>, and praised UFC president Dana White for holding the events at that time."Through those types of setbacks when nobody wants to do anything, that's sometimes where the biggest opportunities are," he told us."We had the whole world watching," Kattar said. "There was no sports. And now here we are, NBA is a little bit behind the 8-ball, and everyone else is behind the 8-ball, because they didn't hit the ground running."I understand where the mindset was, but it takes balls and Dana's got big ones to do what he did, and it's paying dividends now."Ige described the experience as a "weird, eerie feeling." He said: "Especially walking out with nobody in the arena. But once I got in there it was the same — seeing the Octagon closing shut, same thing. It was weird, different."<h2>Preparations to compete on "Fight Island" are easier than before</h2><div type="image" title="Calvin Kattar and Dan Ige, Fight Island" height="1000" width="2000" msid="76985182" hostid="261"></div>At the time of writing, there are <a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">13,323,530 confirmed cases of COVID-19</a> which has led to 578,628 deaths worldwide. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51235105" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The BBC also reports</a> of new, major, outbreaks in India, Latin America, and many states in the US.But this has not perturbed fighters from traveling from the States, and fighting on "Fight Island" — the UFC's new residency of events in a quarantined area of Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.Insider asked the 30-year-old striker <keyword id="9575514" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ryan-benoit">Ryan Benoit</keyword> — who fights Tim Elliot in the co-main event Wednesday — what the reaction of his friends and family was like when he told them he'd be competing during a pandemic. "They weren't too worried about catching the virus," he said."I'm good about sanitizing my hands, I haven't got a cough, I felt good about it. My dad was in the navy for 24 years, in the Middle East a lot, and so he was excited for me coming over here."There have been notable changes in how athletes can compete now. Before he beat Barboza in Jacksonville, Ige said his training was severely limited because his gym wasn't even open.All Ige could do to get ready for his fight in May was strength and conditioning exercises in his home gym, go for a run outside, and punch his heavy bag."After that, everything started opening back up in Vegas so I was fortunate enough to go out there and have a regular training camp" Ige said.Kattar told us that the five shows the UFC held at Apex, a facility it owns in Las Vegas, were "run real smoothly" from the end of May through June.He said: "There was no in-cage interviews, commentating was pushed back from the cage-side, and little things like that. I thought he [White] did a great job. Then it's controlling the variables."And now here we are in Abu Dhabi, and I think the government helped out big time. This is the best [the UFC] has done, to date."Kattar said another major difference between the pandemic shows in Abu Dhabi and the ones in Jacksonville or Las Vegas, is down to the features of "Fight Island."After he came out of a mandatory 48-hour quarantine following two negative tests for the coronavirus, Kattar said he took two race cars for a spin around the Yas Marina Circuit, <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2270347-abu-dhabi-grand-prix-2014-10-key-facts-about-yas-marina-circuit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a $1.3 billion</a> Formula 1 Grand Prix track."One was a drifter, and one was for speed," Kattar said. He then "jumped on a jet-ski for a little bit.""How cool is 'Fight Island' if you're just looking at the damned hotel all day, you know? So getting out there a little bit, but now … it's all business."As for what the UFC and its president Dana White is doing, holding its 10th show in the pandemic era with the 'UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige' "Fight Island" event Wednesday, Kattar said he's grateful for the opportunity."I have respect for what Dana White was able to pull off because I know it wasn't easy."Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/davey-grant-won-by-knockout-so-ufc-gave-50k-bonus-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The UFC gave a Brit a $50,000 bonus after he overcame a fractured jaw and broken nose to KO his opponent</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/jiri-prochazka-a-debut-ufc-fighter-wants-the-ufc-title-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A fighter scored a highlight-reel KO on his UFC debut and is now already targeting the title</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/kamaru-usman-welcomes-a-crazy-fight-with-georges-st-pierre-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kamaru Usman would welcome a 'crazy fight' with Georges St. Pierre after he dominated Jorge Masvidal on 'Fight Island'</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/ufc-ref-facing-backlash-after-jose-aldo-took-unnecessary-beating-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An MMA referee is facing backlash after letting a UFC veteran take a prolonged, hard-to-watch, completely unnecessary beating</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/kamaru-usman-defeated-jorge-masvidal-in-a-one-sided-performance-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kamaru Usman dominated Jorge Masvidal using foot stomps, grappling against the fence, and smothering on the mat</a>

UFC stars say MMA's new normal is 'eerie,' but they're unfazed about fighting in the middle of a pandemic

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword>'s most recent show was one of the best its produced all year.</li><li>It contained highlight-reel moments, extraordinary striking, and a knockout that is an all-time contender when <keyword id="10089257" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="joaquin-buckley">Joaquin Buckley</keyword> landed a rare jump spinning back kick on his opponent.</li><li>Though Buckley stole the show, the UFC <keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">Fight Island</keyword> 5 is carrying the momentum the mixed martial arts firm has built through the pandemic era.</li><li>The UFC began the coronavirus era with Justin Gaethje's violent masterpiece over Tony Ferguson, and now Gaethje has a chance to become the fighter of the year.</li><li>All Gaethje has to do is become the first person to defeat the reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254.</li></ul>When the UFC produces a montage of its iconic modern-day moments, Joaquin Buckley's knockout win over Impa Kasanganay during the Fight Island festival in the middle of a pandemic, has to feature prominently.Buckley landed a jump spinning back kick, which likely caught Kasanganay by surprise.The American was in a vulnerable position as his opponent had caught a previous kick in the palm of his hand. Still, with striking ingenuity and powerful accuracy, Buckley kicked Kasanganay unconscious.The beaten fighter lay stiff and defeated on the canvas while <a href="https://www.insider.com/photo-joaquin-buckley-stuns-onlookers-with-most-unbelievable-ko-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Octagonside onlookers were pictured open-mouthed with their arms above their head</a>.They couldn't believe what they had just seen.The UFC itself called Buckley's knockout <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-joaquin-buckley-scored-the-greatest-ko-in-ufc-history-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the "most unbelievable"</a> in its entire history.But the middleweight match, the fifth bout on a 13-fight card, was one of many sequences that deserve to be immortalized in a highlight-reel that we fondly look back on in the future.Buckley's second-round stoppage win preceded <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-chris-daukaus-scores-45-second-ko-on-fight-island-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a 45-second knockout from the Philadelphian police officer Chris Daukaus</a> and a brutal stoppage from the British athlete <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-tom-breese-scores-hammer-fist-ko-on-fight-island-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Breese, who floored his opponent with a jab, then hit his skull with hammer fists</a> until the referee waved the bout off for good.<div type="image" title="Tom Breese, watch UFC knockout here" height="750" width="1500" msid="78630041" hostid="261"></div>The three successive finishes meant the three final fights on the ESPN+ preliminary card were frenetic-paced and contained edge-of-your-seat action, which had to be seen to be believed.But the show was far from over. The main card had not yet even begun.<h2>Pandemic era UFC events have spoiled fight fans with good, old fashioned, bone-chilling fun</h2>With three fights finishing in under 10 minutes of competition, a decision was perhaps overdue. And for those looking for wrestling rather than striking, Ilia Topuria edged Youssef Zalal in a grapple-heavy bout.But then <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-tom-aspinall-battered-alan-baudot-in-95-seconds-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tom Aspinall, a relative newcomer to the UFC, took just 95 seconds to knockout Alan Baudot</a>. And rather than celebrate, he just looked moody and annoyed after the win. Aspinall later said it was because he felt like he had made a few mistakes during the fight, even though he was only ever hit five times according to official UFC data.Dricus du Plessis scored a memorable stoppage over Markus Perez, Marcin Tybura out-pointed Ben Rothwell, and Edson Barboza appears not far from a title shot as he decisioned Makwan Amirkhani in the penultimate bout of the evening.Then came the main event.And, again, there was another highlight-reel moment for the ages as Cory Sandhagen pulled off a masterclass, <a href="https://www.insider.com/cory-sandhagens-fight-island-win-was-a-ufc-masterclass-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scoring a spinning wheel kick before hitting his downed UFC opponent with punches</a>, forcing the referee to drag him off of Marlon Moraes' defeated body.Though the UFC was forced into a coronavirus-enforced hiatus earlier in the year, it feels like the quality of some of the fights, and the shows in general, are as good as they've ever been.The lack of a crowd has done little to evade the allure of seeing athletes try and beat the crap out of one another.Justin Gaethje produced his magnum opus in the UFC's first pandemic era event — <a href="https://www.insider.com/justin-gaethje-tortured-tony-ferguson-5-rounds-at-ufc-249-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a stunning domination of Tony Ferguson</a>, who had not been beaten in eight years.In the weeks that followed, Glover <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-anthony-smith-can-be-seen-handing-his-tooth-to-the-referee-2020-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Teixeira beat Anthony Smith's teeth out of his mouth</a>, Cody <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-cody-garbrandt-scores-one-of-the-best-kos-of-2020-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Garbrandt scored a knockout of the year contender</a> against Raphael Assuncao, and Dustin <a href="https://www.insider.com/videos-dustin-poirier-edged-dan-hooker-in-ufc-bloodbath-2020-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Poirier edged Dan Hooker in a back-and-forth slobberknocker</a> for the ages.Then the UFC did something different.It embarked on Fight Island — a new concept that became a superstar in its own right, including <a href="https://www.insider.com/inside-fight-island-the-ufcs-most-ambitious-project-of-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early morning golf, late-night, white knuckle joy rides around a race track, and many more memorable fights</a>.<div type="image" title="Anthony Smith hands his teeth to UFC referee Jason Herzog" height="1000" width="2000" msid="78630043" hostid="261"></div>Back at the purpose-built UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Stipe <a href="https://www.insider.com/dan-cormier-said-he-was-blinded-during-stipe-miocic-loss-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Miocic forced the media to ask whether he is the greatest heavyweight of all-time after he beat Dan Cormier in a trilogy</a> scored 2-1 in his favor.Colby <a href="https://www.insider.com/donald-trump-called-ufcs-colby-covington-after-beat-tyron-woodley-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covington caused Trump-related controversy after beating Tyron Woodley</a> with ease, <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-israel-adesanya-humped-paulo-costa-after-dominant-win-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Israel Adesanya kicked off another Fight Island festival by air-humping Paulo Costa</a> after a second-round finish, and, perhaps somewhat fittingly, Gaethje — who kicked-off the UFC's coronavirus era — could soon become the fighter of the year.There is one more Fight Night event Saturday, but the week after that is UFC 254.All Gaethje has to do is become the first person to defeat the UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.It is, unquestionably, his toughest challenge.But after what he produced against Ferguson, combined with his collegiate wrestling background, Gaethje may turn out to be Nurmagomedov's toughest challenge, too.Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/video-watch-multiple-angles-of-joaquin-buckleys-extraordinary-ko-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">There are now multiple angles of a video game-style knockout which has been dubbed one of the best finishes in UFC history</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/cory-sandhagens-fight-island-win-was-a-ufc-masterclass-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cory Sandhagen scored a highlight-reel spinning wheel kick, then hit his UFC opponent with even more punches on the ground</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-tom-breese-scores-hammer-fist-ko-on-fight-island-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A 29-year-old floored his UFC opponent with a jab, then hit his skull with hammer fists until the referee waved the bout off for good</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-tom-aspinall-battered-alan-baudot-in-95-seconds-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A heavy-hitting heavyweight destroyed his UFC opponent in 95 seconds but looked moody and annoyed after the win</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/video-chris-daukaus-scores-45-second-ko-on-fight-island-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An American cop called Chris Daukaus remains unbeaten in the UFC after scoring a brutal 45-second knockout on Fight Island</a>

A video game cheat code, a highlight-reel kick, and hard-fought decisions: UFC Fight Island 5 was one of the best pandemic events yet

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="9054110" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="justin-gaethje">Justin Gaethje</keyword> challenges <keyword id="6164007" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Khabib-Nurmagomedov">Khabib Nurmagomedov</keyword> for the <keyword id="992778" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="UFC">UFC</keyword> lightweight championship Saturday at the <keyword id="9699767" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc-254">UFC 254</keyword> event on <keyword id="9060271" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fight-island">Fight Island</keyword> in Abu Dhabi.</li><li>Nobody has ever beaten Nurmagomedov in a mixed martial arts match, and only Conor McGregor won a round against the Russian en route to a fourth-round submission defeat two years ago.</li><li>Nurmagomedov's head trainer Javier Mendez hailed McGregor's overall abilities and his successes during the 2018 fight.</li><li>UFC analyst <keyword id="10118972" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dan-hardy">Dan Hardy</keyword> says McGregor displayed good takedown defense at times in that bout.</li><li>It could provide Gaethje with a potential blueprint to defeat Nurmagomedov. Hardy even hailed Gaethje as the greatest challenge of Nurmagomedov's career to date.</li></ul>FIGHT ISLAND — Justin Gaethje could use Conor McGregor's performance as a blueprint for how to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov.Though McGregor tapped to a Nurmagomedov neck crank in the fourth round of a wild fight in 2018, the Russian's coach Javier Mendez and the UFC analyst Dan Hardy have both this week lauded the abilities the Irishman showed in that bout.As the interim lightweight title holder, Gaethje challenges for Nurmagomedov's UFC lightweight championship on Saturday at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi.Gaethje, like McGregor, is a striker and so stylistically the main event pits a stand-up athlete against a wrestler.There are technical differences between Gaethje and McGregor's striking, but the way McGregor was able to use defensive wrestling to his advantage in the first round, together with his successes in the third round, provides clues as to how Nurmagomedov's relentless pursuit of takedowns combined with ground-and-pound could be avoided.Insider spoke to Hardy about Gaethje's chances of success, and whether any parts of the McGregor fight could provide learnings for the American ahead of the Nurmagomedov showdown."A lot of people discredit McGregor's takedown defense in that fight," Hardy told us. "That first takedown was a 45-second scramble which is better than most people do against Khabib in the first round."The third round, I think he defended three takedowns and I know there was a lot of people saying it's because Khabib wanted to stand with him, but I disagree."I think if Khabib could have taken it down in the third round he would have done. And the same with [Al] Iaquinta."Iaquinta took the fight on six days' notice and was able to stuff takedowns toward the end of the fight."The difference was he didn't have the conditioning or the punching power that Gaethje's got."Nurmagomedov's head trainer Mendez, who founded the world-renowned American Kickboxing Academy, would perhaps agree with Hardy that McGregor's successes in defeat two years ago have been underrated.Mendez admires McGregor so much that <a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-still-the-no1-threat-to-nurmagomedov-says-mendez-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he still regards the former two-weight UFC champion as the No.1 threat to his fighter</a>, with Gaethje as the No.2 threat."Who has won a round against Khabib? Conor," Mendez said at a Fight Island media day Thursday."And who has given Khabib a tough time in the first round? He took Conor down, but how much damage did Khabib give him?"<h2>Gaethje is 'the biggest challenge' for Nurmagomedov, according to Hardy</h2><div type="image" title="McGregor/Khabib" height="1000" width="2000" msid="78833241" hostid="261"></div>Regardless, where Gaethje could succeed this weekend is by using his footwork and clubbing knockout power.Hardy told Insider that he's long considered Gaethje as the biggest threat to Nurmagomedov's crown in the 155-pound weight class, even when the fighter left the World Series of Fighting organization four years ago to join the UFC."Ever since Justin Gaethje joined the UFC, I've been saying he's the most difficult stylistic match-up for Khabib given the fact his [wrestling] record coming out of high school was something like 191-9."He had 200 wrestling matches in high school before he even crossed over into collegiate wrestling," Hardy said.When Gaethje's head trainer Trevor Wittman addressed the press this week, he too said <a href="https://www.insider.com/justin-gaethje-kept-important-weapon-hidden-before-khabib-nurmagomedov-fight-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his fighter has a secret weapon he's not even had to use yet</a>, and he was talking about Gaethje's wrestling base.The reason Gaethje has not had to use it yet is because he likes to beat opponents up with his fists."He forces people to stand with him," Hardy said.It is to Wittman's credit that Gaethje has evolved so much in the past few years.Since suffering back-to-back losses in his second and third UFC fights, to Eddie Alvarez in 2017 and Dustin Poirier the following year, Gaethje has since tallied a four-fight winning streak. The most impressive fight of that run was a remarkable fifth round stoppage win over Tony Ferguson in May."He picked up two losses and fundamentally changed everything about his style," Hardy said. "He's still trying to achieve the same thing, but now he's not there to be hit."The knockouts over [Edson] Barboza and [James] Vick were impressive, but the knockout over Cowboy [Donald Cerrone] was more impressive because that was Justin Gaethje moving backwards punching, which is not something we've seen before."The question really is, can he defend the takedown," Hardy said. "If he can force Khabib to stand for half a round at any point, that's when he gets very, very dangerous."And as good as Khabib's wrestling is, his takedown success rate is 47%. It's the persistence of the takedowns that get him the fights won."When he gets to the third round, we've seen him get takedowns stuffed by Conor McGregor, Al Iaquinta. And I feel someone who is confident to move forward and put him down with good footwork with knockout power, could be the Kryptonite."I definitely think this is the biggest challenge for Khabib but those two first rounds are going to be hellish."Read more:<a href="https://www.insider.com/video-khabib-nurmagomedov-looked-relieved-to-make-weight-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov looked relieved to make weight ahead of his UFC lightweight title fight Saturday</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/khabib-nurmagomedov-on-difference-between-russian-us-wrestling-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov says there's a difference between Russian and American wrestling, and it's all to do with relentlessness</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/khabib-nurmagomedov-has-given-conor-mcgregor-an-ultimatum-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khabib Nurmagomedov has given Conor McGregor an ultimatum, showing how much power the Irishman has lost in recent years</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/conor-mcgregor-gets-fighter-support-after-khabib-nurmagomedov-demand-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor appears to have support from a UFC ally after he was slapped with an ultimatum by Khabib Nurmagomedov</a><a href="https://www.insider.com/andrade-vs-chookagian-video-shows-brutal-body-shot-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Video footage from a UFC women's flyweight match shows the devastating, fight-ending effect a big shot to the body can have</a>

Justin Gaethje could use Conor McGregor's performance as a blueprint for how to beat Khabib Nurmagomedov

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/khabib-nurmagomedov-of-russia-and-conor-mcgregor-of-ireland-news-photo/1046918324">Photo by Harry How/Getty Images</a>Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Khabib Nurmagomedov would be interested in a rematch against Conor McGregor, according to the fighter's father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.</li><li>However, a rematch would not be fought using mixed martial arts rules in the UFC, but using boxing rules in a ring.</li><li>Abdulamanap Nurmagomedov believes his son has shown extraordinary striking qualities in his most recent bouts, and is confident he can replicate that success in the ring.</li><li>McGregor has fought one boxing fight before, and recently explained that he would consider a return.</li><li>A rematch in boxing is therefore not beyond the realm of impossibility.</li></ul>Conor McGregor has been <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-claims-he-won-the-battle-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clamoring for a rematch against Khabib Nurmagomedov</a> - and according to the Russian wrestler's father, the Irishman may finally get his wish.McGregor lost to Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October. He was dominated in the UFC lightweight championship title fight, dropped with a thudding right hand in the second round, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-result-who-won-ko-khabib-nurmagomedov-10-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">submitted for good with a tight neck crank in the fourth</a>.But regardless of the heavy defeat, McGregor immediately <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-wants-a-rematch-but-joe-rogan-says-no-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">campaigned for a rematch</a> as he <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-will-conor-mcgregor-fight-next-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recognized he made many mistakes</a> in the build-up to the bout, as well as in the fight itself.Nurmagomedov's father and mentor, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, is "interested" in a rematch and would even concede a massive advantage to McGregor.Abdulamanap is ready to explore a fight away from mixed martial arts, which would mean his son Khabib would not be able to engage in any grappling, wrestling, or ground-and-pound strategies - techniques that proved so successful at UFC 229. Instead, Abdulamanap is interested in a rematch fought using boxing rules."This is a fight we are interested in," <a href="https://iz.ru/813005/rinat-shigaev-andrei-pirov/nurmagomedov-starshii-interesen-boi-s-makgregorom-po-pravilam-boksa?utm_source=yxnews&amp;utm_medium=desktop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abdulmanap told Russian daily newspaper Izvestia, according to the Irish Mirror</a>. "Khabib showed that he is able to beat the best strikers of mixed martial arts. He said this before, but few believed it. However, after strong victories over Michael Johnson, Edson Barboza, and Conor, people begin to believe."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Russia-Putin-Nurmagomedov/3f8b486b5e434990a907bbc8550c094c/3/0">Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP</a>Russia president Vladimir Putin with Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and Khabib Nurmagomedov.</div></div></div>Nurmagomedov has been linked with a boxing fight against the unbeaten prizefighter Floyd Mayweather, a retired boxer who lifted world titles in five weight classes during an illustrious career. Mayweather even said <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/floyd-mayweather-wants-to-fight-khabib-nurmagomedov-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"oh, we fighting,"</a> when asked about a possible Nurmagomedov bout in October.Weeks later, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/khabib-nurmagomedov-wants-to-fight-floyd-mayweather-in-moscow-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nurmagomedov held a meeting with the Russian Boxing Federation</a> to discuss the Floyd Mayweather fight, and said he wanted to host it in Moscow in front of 100,000 fans.Competing in a boxing ring is something Nurmagomedov is clearly interested in, and Abdulamanap's recent comments have only furthered the legitimacy of this pursuit."Nurmagomedov is able to do it in the boxing ring," Abdulamanap said. "Khabib has all the skills to win by the rules of boxing. One of the key skills can be called endurance."He added: "I remember his five round fight with Iaquinta, in which Khabib showed his willingness to fight in absolutely any area, using everything from a light left jab to control on the ground. I want to note that the fight with Iaquinta was of great importance for us, there was a title belt at stake and it was important to keep the bout calm, and take the win. Which we did."Combat sports website BloodyElbow.com said the prospect of a boxing match between the two UFC fighters <a href="https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2018/11/19/18103077/khabib-nurmagomedov-vs-conor-mcgregor-rematch-abdulmanap-interview-boxing-ring-mma-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"isn't so far fetched"</a> when you consider the boxing promotion Zuffa Boxing is a fledgling UFC organisation.Additionally, Nurmagomedov's meeting with the Russian Boxing Federation, together with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/conor-mcgregor-wants-to-fight-paul-malignaggi-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McGregor's own ambitions in the sport</a>, mean this could be something the UFC explores in the near future. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-wwe-wrestlers-learn-to-fight-at-ny-wrestling-school-2018-10">Inside an intense training session where aspiring WWE wrestlers learn how to fight</a></h3> <div> </div> </div>

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