Last night's UFC 219 co-main event lightweight bout saw Khabib Nurmagomedov dismantle Edson Barboza in highly impressive fashion. His strike selection and grappling were faultless. The early rounds were dominated by his onslaughts. It was the greatest statement yet by one of the UFC's greatest lightweights.
Judges scored it 30-25 twice and 30-24. The undefeated Russian's greatest weakness seems to be outside the octagon with injury, as in it he is brutally efficient.
Relentless pressure by @TeamKhabib 👀#UFC219 pic.twitter.com/lWSQiYUywL
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) December 31, 2017
Only direction @TeamKhabib has gone ⏭#UFC219 pic.twitter.com/i2t5ZDl1RL
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) December 31, 2017
Khabib Nurmagomedov moved to 25-0 in his MMA career and the post-fight reaction gave an indicator as to who the UFC's latest sweetheart is.
Belt or no belt Khabib Nurmagomedov is the best 155lbs fighter in the world IMO. #UFC219
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) December 31, 2017
My man Khabib 25-0 the real champ no bullshit. 30-24 on the score card ha
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) December 31, 2017
@TeamKhabib is unreal! @ufc
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) December 31, 2017
#uncrownedking #assasin #dagestan #beafraid #weareaka
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 31, 2017
"If UFC approves, I'll fight both Conor and Tony in the same night. Why not? I swear, this is no joke."@TeamKhabib at the post fight presser.
And we 1000% believe him. #UFC219 pic.twitter.com/GBIhcPI8wh— UFC (@ufc) December 31, 2017
With this performance, it is becoming increasingly clear that Conor McGregor will need to fight soon in order to appease UFC fans. He is currently the lightweight champion, but because of the interim champion Tony Ferguson and Nurmagomedov's recent performance his inactivity will not sit well with the general public.
When asked who was his preferred next opponent, Nurmagomedov was adamant he would take them both one in one night. Ferguson has since responded to that.
Don't Care If The @ufc Approves, I'll Cut @TheNotoriousMMA ... Drop @TeamKhabib & Move Up To Welterweight Either B4 Or After I'm Done w/ This Division & Rid It Of The Trash At The Top. Pollution Has Accumilated Over The Years, Time To Clean House #DefendOrVacate🖕🏽😎-TheeChamp https://t.co/l6XkH50ZQY
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) December 31, 2017
In the card's other main event, Cris Cyborg vs Holly Holm also lived up to the hype as Cyborg won by judge's decision.
Perhaps most significantly, initial reports suggest the main-event did 1.1 million buys. This caps a mixed year for the UFC.
2015 and 2016 were driven by McGregor, Rousey, Jones and UFC 200 but prior to last night 2017 only saw Jones and St-Pierre break 300 thousand buys per event. A part of the companies success has been down to its ability to replace older stars with new ones but for 2018 to be an improved PPV year, it appears the best bet is to get an out-of-action older face active again.
