Conor McGregor to face Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229
“The Notorious” Conor McGregor is making his return to the Octagon and he’s challenging for the belt he used to hold. The UFC announced at their 25 Year Anniversary press conference that McGregor will challenge Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in Las Vegas on October 6. Following the press conference in which neither fighter was there for, UFC President Dana White said they had one more video to show to everyone.
THE FIGHT IS ON!@TeamKhabib vs @TheNotoriousMMA Oct. 6 in Las Vegas at #UFC229! pic.twitter.com/GHNzmj4eWY
— UFC (@ufc) August 3, 2018
Nurmagomedov won the lightweight title when he defeated Al Iaquinta by unanimous decision at UFC 223 in Brooklyn this past April. Interim champion Tony Ferguson was stripped of his title once Nurmagomedov and Iaquinta stepped into the Octagon at the Barclays Center.
The fight between Nurmagomedov and McGregor picked up major steam after McGregor attacked a bus that Khabib was sitting on during a media day for UFC 223. McGregor would then turn himself into New York police and ultimately plead guilty to disorderly conduct and avoided any jail time or felony charges.
Khabib has been calling for a fight against McGregor since UFC 205 when “The Eagle” defeated Michael Johnson on the same night that McGregor defeated Eddie Alvarez to become the first fighter to hold two titles simultaneously inside the UFC. The former lightweight and featherweight champion has not fought in the UFC since defeating Alvarez in November of 2016. McGregor did crossover to fight Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match in August of 2017 but ultimately fell short and was stopped by the undefeated Mayweather in the 10th round by TKO.
Throughout his professional career, Khabib has compiled a 26-0 professional record and will look for his first title defense when he takes on McGregor at UFC 229. The fight between both fighters is anticipated to be one of the biggest fights in UFC history.
The matchup between McGregor and Khabib will bring together nearly two years of back-and-forth between the fighters and will be for one of the company’s most prestigious titles inside a very talented-stacked lightweight division.
