Khabib Nurmagomedov was 8-0 in the UFC when he stepped into the octagon to face Edson Barboza in the co-main event of UFC 219. During that run he had never won a fight-night bonus award. That would change at UFC 219.
Barboza, who has some of the flashiest, fastest and most dangerous kicks in the sport had his strength negated by the pressure of Nurmagomedov. By the halfway point of the first round, Nurmagomedov had established two the fight was going to play out. He would close the distance, take Barboza to the mat and then positively punish him with ground strikes.
Barboza’s facial expression throughout the fight told the tale of a man who was slowly drowning while hoping that someone would save him. By the time the second round ended, the bout was clearly over for Barboza. He had been outstruck 119 to 19. The UFC commentators, fans and pundits all expressed a desire that Barboza’s corner would wave off the fight before the final five minutes. That did not happen.
Things did not improve for Barboza in the final stanza. He was taken down twice and Nurmagomedov landed 45 strikes to Barboza’s six in the third round.
When the scores were read, they represented just how dominant Nurmagomedov had been: 30-24, 30-25, 30-25.
The fight was a master class in top control and ground strikes. At UFC 219, Nurmagomedov lived up to all the praise that had been heaped on him over the years.
Nurmagomedov would win the vacant UFC lightweight title in his next outing with a decision win over late replacement Al Iaquinta.
Nurmagomedov defends that belt for the first time when he meets McGregor in the main event of UFC 229, which takes place on Oct. 6 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Before that fight takes place, watch the champion’s bonus winning victory over Barboza.
