They promised the biggest fight in the UFC's history and fans got it, by means they certainly did not expect. Conor McGregor tapped out after losing the first two rounds and from there, the night descended into anarchy.
The scenes that subsequently unfolded are unprecedented in the organization's history and the shock was evident. Despite winning, he remained furious and jumped the Octogan cage to get at members of McGregor's team. Joe Rogan slammed Khabib Nurmagomedov's post-fight actions as "incredibly foolish" and "disgraceful," a sentiment that echoed across the MMA community.
This is a terrible night for MMA.
It could have been the best night ever. But it was ruined.
Remember, MMA isn't still an official sport in Ireland. This will not help.
Disgraceful, rotten scenes. #UFC229— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) October 7, 2018
Honestly I'm not sure why that wasn't a DQ even. Seems like there were grounds for just disqualifying him over that whole post fight mess. #UFC229
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) October 7, 2018
Very hard to tell who did what but definitely saw Khabib get into it with Conor’s team and also saw a member of Khabib’s team go after Conor. Horrible.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 7, 2018
This fight probably had more eyeballs on it than any other event in UFC history. I wonder what those who don't watch week in week out are thinking right now. #UFC229
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) October 7, 2018
This is the most incredible scene I've ever witnessed. Bruce Buffer announcing Khabib Nurmagomedov the winner of the contest with absolutely nobody else in the Octagon. Surreal. #UFC229
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) October 7, 2018
There’s chaos. Brawls. This is horrible.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 7, 2018
Dana White just told Nurmagomedov he's not putting the belt on him in the cage because the fans will start throwing garbage into the ring. Nurmagomedov being escorted by a legion of security to the back now #UFC229
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) October 7, 2018
I mean, this is going to be so, so good for UFC business.
— Dann Stupp (@DannStupp) October 7, 2018
Decision is read with both fighters out of the octagon. Belt not awarded to Khabib. What a shitshow. #UFC229
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) October 7, 2018
I’m devastated. How can you defend that? Why should anyone take this sport seriously?
— Mark O'Toole (@M_OToole) October 7, 2018
It is hard to know where it goes from here. There is certainly an appetite for a rematch but post-fight Dana White refused to award the belt and there will, no doubt, be repercussions for Nurmagomedov's act.
It was a night of grave disappointment for Conor McGregor, but also for the sport. After the outstanding high that came before with Tony Ferguson and Anthony Pettis's round of the decade, the night went to an unimaginable low.
