Despite entering Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 21 event as a sizable favorite according to the oddsmakers, Abubakar Nurmagomedov (15-3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) was submitted in the opening round.
The cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Abubakar tapped out to a David Zawada (17-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC) triangle choke at the 2:50 mark of their preliminary bout from CSKA Arena in Moscow.
Check out a highlight of the finish, courtesy of the UFC:
Nurmagomedov, of course, entered the contest with high expectations, a burden immediately handed to anyone carrying his surname. The disappointing result left him visibly frustrated.
Meanwhile, a certain Irishman who has long feuded with the Dagestani clan didn’t hold back, immediately taking to social media to throw a little salt in the wound.
Conor McGregor, of course, was submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov in their infamous October 2018 meeting. McGregor has yet to return to the cage, and though he’s angled for a rematch in the time since, Nurmagomedov hasn’t show much interest.
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