Khabib Nurmagomedov heads into UFC 223’s main event on the strength of two of the most dominating performances of the past several years.
In his most recent fight, Nurmagomedov dominated Edson Barboza at UFC 219. Barboza, one of the most skilled strikers in the lightweight division had no answer for the savagery of his opponent in that fight. Nurmagomedov’s dominant ground game was on full display during that three-round contest. Of the 89 significant strikes Nurmagomedov landed in that fight, 55 were delivered on the ground.
One year before that win, Nurmagomedov brutalized Michael Johnson at UFC 205. Like the Barboza fight, Nurmagomedov was a force on the ground. He landed 94 total significant strikes before he submitted Johnson in the third stanza. Of those 94 strikes, 88 came on the ground.
The most frightening moments of the fight were when Nurmagomedov paused his ground assault to implore Johnson to give up.
“You have to give up,” Nurmagomedov said. “I need to fight for the title. You know this. I deserve it.”
Not satisfied with speaking to his opponent, Nurmagomedov took time between the second and third round to talk to UFC President Dana White, who was sitting cage side for the fight.
On Saturday, Nurmagomedov fights featherweight champion Max Holloway for the UFC lightweight title. That bout takes place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and serves as the main event of UFC 223.
Before that fight, take some time to watch Nurmagomedov’s full fight against Johnson.
UFC 223 fight card:
Main Card (Pay-Per-View)
Lightweight Max Holloway vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
Women’s Strawweight Rose Namajunas vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk
Featherweight Calvin Kattar vs. Renato Moicano
Lightweight Michael Chiesa vs. Anthony Pettis
Lightweight Al Iaquinta vs. Paul Felder
Prelims (FS1)
Women’s Strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Felice Herrig
Flyweight Ray Borg vs. Brandon Moreno
Lightweight Joe Lauzon vs. Chris Gruetzemacher
Lightweight Evan Dunham vs. Olivier Aubin-Mercier
Prelims (UFC Fight Pass)
Featherweight Alex Caceres vs. Artem Lobov
Women’s Flyweight Bec Rawlings vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith
Light Heavyweight Devin Clark vs. Mike Rodriguez
Featherweight Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Kyle Bochniak
