UFC 229 is one of the most remembered events of the promotion, as the historic clash between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor took place that day. However, the pay-per-view became more famous because of the after-match altercation between the two fighters. That fight was not just a fight for Khabib, it was way too personal for him.
Khabib about the infamous brawl
Recently, “The Eagle” appeared on the Inspire Me podcast and revealed his emotions, saying he wanted to bite Conor’s heart. It wasn’t about him defending a title; it was about settling a score that became personal because of months of trash talk by McGregor towards Khabib.
The Irishman constantly targeted Khabib’s family, his religion and everything he stood for, which enraged him fully and fans saw him unleashing his full power inside the Octagon at UFC 229. During the interview on the Inspire Me podcast, the Dagestani fighter revealed how intense his emotions were before the fight. Khabib stated that he wanted nothing more than to be locked in with Conor in the cage.
“It was like we just signed the contract, and it was like I prayed to God, Just close the cage and me and him be alone, because you never know, someone can get injured, something can happen. You never know. I was preparing for this fight, and I was waiting for this moment. I was very happy,” said Nurmagomedov.
The Eagle proved what he wanted to
When Khabib stepped into the Octagon that night, he was clear about his intentions and even told the UFC CEO Dana White, “Today, you cannot protect him.” It was a declaration of his intent and Khabib was ready to make McGregor regret every trash talk he made. Khabib clearly dominated the whole fight and almost knocked “The Notorious” before eventually locking him in a rear-naked choke that ended the fight in the fourth round. But that was not all for Khabib, as he jumped over the cage after the fight to confront McGregor’s team, who were also involved in the heated buildup.
Both sides got involved in a scuffle, security unable to control, and the crowd just looking in shock. “The Eagle” admitted that his emotions were still high after the victory and it was a very emotional time for him. “I really wanted to cut someone’s heart out. Do you have that feeling in your life? I just tried to bite his heart,” said Khabib.
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Khabib stated that when the promotion promotes this fight, they have to expect something. “When they know me, when they know my whole team, they know we don’t play. We compete. You can’t play MMA, you can play soccer, you can play American football, you can play hockey. But you can’t play MMA. You have to fight. It’s a fighting sport,” said Khabib.
Khabib sees that fight and the whole controversy afterwards as a necessary response to everything that happened. He doesn’t regret his actions. In fact, he felt he had defended his honor and proved his point. Even though it has been five years since that fight, McGregor still tries to prove Nurmagomedov on social media, but “The Eagle” is unbothered by it. He has closed that chapter and moved on.
