5 Rounds: Is Nurmagomedov probably the most dominant UFC fighter ever?
Ariel Helwani, Marc Raimondi, Jeff Wagenheim, Chael Sonnen and Gilbert Melendez
Khabib Nurmagomedov was in basic type, defending his UFC light-weight championship with a third-round submission win over Dustin Poirier on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Paul Felder earned the most important win of his profession, knocking off Edson Barboza. And prime contenders Joanne Calderwood and Curtis Blaydes additionally shined.
Our panel is right here to interrupt down the most important moments of UFC 242.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retained the UFC light-weight title, enhancing to 28-Zero. Is “The Eagle” probably the most dominant fighter in historical past?
Ariel Helwani: Sure. I’ve been saying this for nearly two years now. Khabib Nurmagomedov is probably the most dominant athlete this sport has ever seen. Palms down. He now’s 28-Zero and has solely misplaced one spherical in his UFC profession (Spherical three versus Conor McGregor). He would not simply beat you, he mauls you. Dare I say, he smashes you. Sure, I do know Jon Jones has a case right here, however he has misplaced rounds and has appeared much more vincible than Nurmagomedov has all through his profession.
Gilbert Melendez: That is a tricky query. I do not know fairly but. As of now, he has a recipe, and till somebody figures out methods to sprawl and ball or somebody is aware of methods to struggle off their again, he’s the very best 155er on this planet.
Marc Raimondi: It’s extremely exhausting to say for sure, as a result of the factors is subjective. Is he that proper now? Surely. Nurmagomedov has misplaced precisely one spherical within the UFC, the third in opposition to Conor McGregor at UFC 229. And that was in a struggle he completed and was profitable comprehensively. Nurmagomedov dominated the extraordinarily rugged, skillful Dustin Poirier on Saturday in each spherical. Anderson Silva gained 16 straight to begin his UFC profession and did not typically lose rounds in that stretch. Jon Jones has 20 fights within the UFC with a loss and a no contest on his file, however he has by no means been actually challenged. Nonetheless, Jones does lose rounds occasionally. Nurmagomedov is 12-Zero to date within the UFC. Proper now, I would say Silva was probably the most dominant in historical past, however Nurmagomedov is within the dialog.
Chael Sonnen: Oh yeah, Khabib is probably the most dominant. I can not consider anybody extra dominant or in management. He has by no means misplaced a struggle. He finishes everyone. Guys he would not end, you would like they waved it off. It is nearly unmerciful in the way in which he’s beating guys. He is also type of a throwback the place he’s exhibiting us that one elite talent will be very profitable. You do not have to know all the pieces equally.
Jeff Wagenheim: Nurmagomedov is 12-Zero within the UFC, and nobody has ever began a run within the promotion like that. However I will maintain off till Khabib has greater than two title defenses earlier than anointing him probably the most dominant ever. Ronda Rousey was probably the most dominant ever till she wasn’t; after ending consecutive title defenses in 58, 66, 16, 14 and 34 seconds, she was KO’d, and that was the top of that. Anderson Silva toyed with most of his middleweight challengers in addition to the sunshine heavyweights he stepped up in opposition to. Demetrious Johnson made 11 title defenses and Georges St-Pierre made 9, and there is additionally this fellow named Jon Jones. So let’s examine slightly bit extra from Khabib, like perhaps a title protection in opposition to clear No. 1 contender Tony Ferguson. If he does to “El Cucuy” what he did to Dustin Poirier and all who got here earlier than, then we are able to discuss dominance.
Dustin Poirier, backside, paid the value for his incapacity to cease the takedown makes an attempt of Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242. Per Haljestam/USA TODAY Sports activities
What went flawed with Dustin Poirier’s recreation plan?
Helwani: I do not suppose something, actually. Nurmagomedov is simply that good. I imagine Poirier was recreation and able to go. He had a number of the greatest coaches within the recreation in his nook, however Nurmagomedov is simply so dominant and stifling, it is exhausting to inflict any type of harm on him. Nurmagomedov suffocated Poirier within the first spherical. To start with of the second spherical, Poirier discovered some success on the ft, however then it was extra of the identical. The guillotine within the third seemed shut, however in the long run, it was all for naught. The story right here is not what Poirier did not do, it is what Nurmagomedov did. He’s simply that darn good.
Melendez: Poirier did a terrific job making an attempt his greatest on his ft, however he simply could not neutralize the takedown. His takedown defenses had been threatening the guillotine choke. He had one which was shut, however you simply cannot end Khabib on that. One other problem in strategy was him making an attempt to construct to his base when he was taken down and tried to hit a swap; he went Zero-for-2 on these. Even when Poirier did these switches, Khabib countered and ended up in a extra superior place — like nearly to mount — a really excessive half guard through which he was in a position to do some punishment with a full-body lock on prime of Poirier.
Raimondi: Nothing actually went flawed. It is simply unimaginable to arrange for Nurmagomedov’s wrestling. Poirier has loads of nice wrestling coaching companions. American Prime Crew is full of a number of the most richly proficient fighters on the planet. However Nurmagomedov’s MMA chain wrestling is on one other degree. It has not been stopped but, and few have even come shut. Poirier weathered the storm within the first spherical. His shot was within the second when he had Nurmagomedov on his heels. It almost grew to become a stand-up brawl, which Poirier might win. However Poirier appeared to tire, and Nurmagomedov put him on his again once more. It should be irritating for Poirier, however he received crushed by the higher fighter — an all-time nice. It wasn’t for a poor recreation plan or execution. It was simply an eye-of-the-needle-sized margin for error.
Sonnen: I do not suppose something went flawed with Poirier’s recreation plan. Khabib shouldn’t be the takedown grasp that folks preserve making an attempt to say he’s. His takedowns occur in opposition to the fence, which is exclusive. When an opponent is in opposition to the fence, it is a fairly good place for a pure protection and exhausting to take guys down — and there is the place Khabib desires to be. And that is simply uncommon. If you happen to’re preventing Khabib and you’ll preserve your again off the fence, your capability to defend the takedown goes up about 98%.
Wagenheim: What was flawed with Poirier’s recreation plan was that he was preventing Khabib Nurmagomedov. That was all. You may see that Poirier was well-prepared. A few occasions, he almost reversed place on the bottom, however Khabib is solely higher than anybody Dustin trains with. Poirier additionally landed a strong punch early in Spherical 2 and put Nurmagomedov in retreat briefly; however while you let your palms go, you open your self to a takedown, and Khabib would not want a lot of a gap. The warmth made the fighters sweatier than traditional, and that helped each of them to flee from submission tries. However finally, Nurmagomedov received him, and that was no fault of Poirier’s plan.
Zero:22
Edson Barboza slips out of a submission from Paul Felder and the 2 alternate strikes on the ft within the co-main occasion of UFC 242. For extra UFC, enroll right here for ESPN+ http://plus.espn.com/ufc.
Paul Felder gained a cut up choice over Edson Barboza. Did you agree with the outcome?
Helwani: I agree with the choice, however I do not agree with the scorecards. The 2 reverse 30-27s are past wacky. There isn’t any method these are proper. I had it 29-28 for Felder, with him profitable the second and third rounds ever so barely, however it was definitely shut. I will not hate you should you had it 29-28 for Barboza. It was a tough struggle to attain. However to recommend both man gained all three rounds is categorically false. Absurd, actually.
Melendez: The choice did shock me in the way in which that the decide stated 30-27 Paul Felder. That made it slightly more durable to just accept. I feel the second spherical was shut. I would give the struggle two rounds to at least one to Barboza; perhaps that second spherical was debatable. Nevertheless it got here right down to that final card, and I do not agree with 30-27 Felder.
Raimondi: I do, and I do know I am most likely within the minority. I perceive the arguments for Barboza. It was a really, very shut struggle, and a call both method would have been OK. However I had Felder profitable the second and third rounds. Judges are on the lookout for probably the most impactful, important issues in each spherical, and Felder opening up a lower and doing harm with elbows from the underside within the second spherical was essential. Felder fairly clearly gained the third spherical, touchdown more durable photographs, and I believed Barboza clearly gained the primary. I’ll add this: The 30-27 scorecard for Felder from decide Maria Makhmutiva was not good.
Sonnen: Felder didn’t win that match. It was a enjoyable struggle. He protected himself effectively on the underside, and one time he ended up in a position to lower Barboza unexpectedly. Felder was in a position to safe a catch; he locked in an arm bar. Felder additionally pressured Barboza effectively. That was the excellent news for Felder, however he didn’t win that struggle.
Wagenheim: The right man had his hand raised, in my view, however the choice nonetheless is a main instance of the folly of MMA judging. How two educated officers can watch a three-round struggle and every name it a clear sweep for a unique fighter signifies that the oldsters at cageside with pencils of their palms usually are not watching for a similar issues. And that is an issue for fighters, who’re left with no concept what they must do to impress the judges. “Do not go away it within the palms of the judges” is the Dana White mantra, and it’s pure knowledge.
1:17
Curtis Blaydes dominates Justin Willis all through the struggle, together with slamming his opponent repeatedly en path to a win by way of unanimous choice.
Who, outdoors of the primary occasion and co-main occasion, most impressed you?
Helwani: Curtis Blaydes. Reality be instructed, I used to be slightly anxious once I noticed the massive boys strolling out in that warmth. I had flashbacks to Mark Hunt and Ben Rothwell at UFC 135, however to Blaydes’ credit score, he seemed phenomenal at UFC 242. His ground-and-pound was on level, and it actually has grow to be one of many sport’s most vicious types of attacking. Heck, he even stated after the struggle that he had 5 full rounds in him. Spectacular stuff from Blaydes, who has now gained two in a row.
Melendez: Belal Muhammad is the grasp of stress. He set tempo and was aggressive and located some openings — with a straight proper to the physique and a left hook to the top — in opposition to his opponent Takashi Sato that stored touchdown. He landed some lovely double legs and finally took the again of Sato and simply caught to that recreation plan — stress, stress, stress. Muhammad timed his straight lefts and countered effectively and finally received Sato’s again and choked him.
Raimondi: There are just a few good selections right here, however I will go along with Diego Ferreira. He was the underdog coming in in opposition to the explosive Mairbek Taisumov, and after the primary spherical, Ferreira utterly managed the struggle on the ft. Thoughts you, Ferreira is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and identified for his grappling. Taisumov is a knockout artist. But, Ferreira was the higher man within the putting division, which is a credit score to the work he has performed beneath coach Sayif Saud at Fortis MMA in Dallas. Quietly, Ferreira has gained 5 in a row within the stacked light-weight division, and it is time for him to be taken critically.
Sonnen: Joanne Calderwood. She wished to maintain this struggle standing up, and he or she largely had success doing that as a result of Andrea “KGB” Lee is so good on the bottom but in addition is so good at getting fights to the bottom. Lee simply wasn’t in a position to. Calderwood discovered a option to preserve the space each time KGB got here in; Calderwood would give her some type of distraction, whether or not it was an uppercut or an elbow or a success to the physique. And Calderwood simply wished to struggle the struggle in her realm. It was very aggressive, however it was very clear that it went to Calderwood.
Wagenheim: Curtis Blaydes principally gained in 10 seconds. The Octagon door had barely closed earlier than he took Shamil Abdurakhimov to the canvas; by the top of the primary spherical, Blaydes had 4 takedowns and was in full mount, delivering a vicious beating. Blaydes did what he has performed to each heavyweight he has confronted — besides Francis Ngannou, who handed Blaydes his two profession losses. That is important, as a result of Ngannou is subsequent in line for a title shot, until Daniel Cormier opts to finish the Stipe Miocic trilogy. If DC retires, Blaydes ought to await the winner of Miocic-Ngannou II — no different contender can be as deserving. If “Razor” finally ends up third in line, nevertheless, he may have to go dominate one other poor, unlucky heavyweight.
Joanne Calderwood, left, entertained the UFC 242 crowd in Abu Dhabi each throughout and after her victory over Andrea Lee. Francois Nel/Getty Pictures
What was the spotlight of UFC 242?
Helwani: Joanne Calderwood speaking about how scorching she was and never in a handsome type of method after her win over Andrea Lee was nice enjoyable. Her supervisor, Danny Rubenstein, instructed me afterward that she was so scorching that she thought-about taking off her rash guard in the midst of the struggle. The warmth appeared to have an effect on lots of people all evening, and that was a enjoyable method of addressing it in basic Calderwood vogue. Calderwood, of Scotland, selected to put on a rash guard to respect the United Arab Emirates tradition, by the way in which, in order that was a very considerate gesture on her half. I additionally liked seeing Nurmagomedov carrying Poirier’s shirt after the struggle and saying he would promote it and donate all of the proceeds to Poirier’s Good Battle Basis. Nice gesture on the champ’s half.
Melendez: To see Khabib Nurmagomedov neutralize the swap by Dustin Poirier. I’ve by no means seen somebody advance to mount when Poirier tried to hit that swap. It appeared it should have been working for Poirier in coaching camp, since he went for it twice, however each occasions it was stuffed and actually Khabib went to a extra superior place with it.
Raimondi: Nurmagomedov getting handled just like the famous person he’s. Nurmagomedov was the B-side in opposition to Conor McGregor final yr at UFC 229, let’s be sincere about that. McGregor is on a unique degree so far as mainstream consideration. However Nurmagomedov, at this second, is perhaps the second-biggest title within the UFC, particularly internationally. UFC 242 was basically an occasion made for him in Abu Dhabi, a Muslim-majority nation. The sector was full of Nurmagomedov followers, lots of whom had been carrying his signature Dagestani papakha hat. Nurmagomedov felt like an enormous deal outdoors of the rivalry with McGregor, and it was essential the UFC set it up that method.
Sonnen: I feel that Curtis Blaydes’ win was very significant. That division actually lacks parity proper now. We’ve got rumors that Brock Lesnar was going to come back out. There have been rumors that Jon Jones was going to maneuver. We’ve got Fabricio Werdum suspended for one more few months. The division is only a mess proper now. Blaydes suits the invoice. He checks plenty of packing containers. He’s 26 years younger. He has shelf life. And so far as placing the punches, kicks and grappling all collectively, I do not suppose I’ve ever seen him look so good.
Wagenheim: Like many followers, I did not purchase the champion vs. champion hype. Nurmagomedov was the champ, Poirier a challenger who had been given a pretend belt so the UFC might promote his April struggle with Max Holloway as one thing greater than only a nice matchup. However on Saturday, each Khabib and Dustin carried out themselves like champions, treating one another with respect earlier than and after doing battle. How refreshing that there was no Conor McGregor nonsense. And the way refreshing that Nurmagomedov stood within the cage afterward carrying a Dustin Poirier T-shirt — and saying he’ll put it up on the market, with proceeds going to Dustin’s charity. That was my spotlight — two athletes performing like professionals. That is what sports activities are imagined to be about.