It’s fair to say Khabib Nurmagomedov is savouring his victory against Conor McGregor; enjoying reliving the glory of what many have hailed the biggest fight in UFC history.
The Russian mixed martial artist even invited friends over to rewatch the match; tucking into pizzas and drinks as his UFC 229 entrance played out on a TV screen.
Kicking back on the sofa with a satisfied smile on his face, Nurmagomedov looked quite relaxed in the footage, which shows him basking in the glow of his recent win.
The Khabib v McGregor fight took place at the T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 6, 2018. Nurmagomedov won by submission, bringing his undefeated record up to a total of 27 wins.
Footage of the lightweight champion’s screening was captured by friends who were present, and has since been shared widely on social media; eliciting a wide range of responses.
One person tweeted:
@TheNotoriousMMA should grab a glass of his whiskey and watch how he took a royal ass whooping. That was a shame on his part. He didn’t even go 5 rounds. I want my money back. [sic]
Another said:
t’s a wonder they didn’t hurt themselves from laughing at how easy it was. [sic]
Check it out below:
However, others weren’t happy about Nurmagomedov’s attitude, considering the way he’d reacted following the fight.
One person said:
Hope he gets stripped and a big fine.
While another remarked:
I’ve heard of a sore loser, but I’ve never heard of a sore winner. Hope they strip his belt!!
The aftermath of the dramatic fight turned nasty, with Nurmagomedov jumping out of the Octagon to attack Dillon Danis – part of McGregor’s team – while one of his own teammates rushed in to attack the Notorious.
As a result of this altercation, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has withheld Nurmagomedov’s $2 million fight purse pending further investigation.
According to MMA Weekly, Nurmagomedov probably won’t be paid his purse until the commission decides whether or not they’ll press charges against him.
Speaking at a post-match press conference, Nurmagomedov apologised for his behaviour, saying:
I want to say sorry to the athletic commission, sorry to Vegas. I know this is not my best side,
I don’t understand how people can say I jumped on the cage. He talked about my religion, my family, he came to Brooklyn and could have killed people on the bus.
Why are we talking about me climbing on the cage? My father taught me to be respectful. Today, he tapped, the belt is here, undisputed, undefeated UFC Lightweight Champion. This is a respectful sport, not a trash-talking sport.
Prior to the high profile fight, McGregor had made some personal comments about Nurmagomedov’s faith, country and his family.
Following his defeat, McGregor shared an Instagram pic of him in the Octagon with the simple caption ‘I’ll be back’, suggesting his determination has remained intact after another Las Vegas disappointment.
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Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.