UFC 229: Khabib's Lost Opportunity

"By sparking the melee in the crowd, Nurmagomedov ensured that it wasn't just his Irish opponent that lost something on the night. Nurmagomedov lost something as well. In a way, everyone did. "

At the UFC 229 post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White looked beaten as he picked his way through the pandemonium of the main event. 

But he perked up when a reporter asked him about the opportunity passed up by lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov following an imperious win over MMA's brightest light Conor McGregor.

"You're absolutely right sir. Great question, and I agree with you," replied White. "What Khabib should have done is picked Conor up, hugged him, said good fight and get his belt."

White, the promoter supreme, can be downright baffling at times but he was right on the money here.

Because when Nurmagomedov scaled the cage and hurled himself feet-first into the midst of McGregor's team, the narrative of what was supposed to be his crowning moment changed.

By sparking the melee in the crowd, Nurmagomedov ensured that it wasn't just his Irish opponent that lost something on the night. Nurmagomedov lost something as well. In a way, everyone did.

We lost the chance to focus on the Russian's performance--a display so imperious, so destructive, that he never once looked in danger. Not only was he never troubled by McGregor's left hand, it was him who sent the Irishman flying with a overhand right of his own. 

We lost the chance to hear from both men; viewpoints that would be fascinating given how this fight will define their careers. What would they say? Who would they challenge next? Would this hatred be squashed? (fat chance now).

In the midst of the flying limbs and sucker punches, we lost the chance to appreciate how good Tony Ferguson looked in another of his gleefully bloody wars against Anthony Pettis. After a five month layoff following a serious knee injury it was like El Cucuy never left. But you can bet the attention shifted away from Ferguson's excellent comeback.

But that pales in comparison to what Nurmagomedov himself lost. Here was his chance to be the hero of millions; the man who shut Conor McGregor up in the worst way.  

Look at what a Conor win did for Nate Diaz. Now remember that Khabib doesn't just represent Stockton, he represents the largest country on Earth. This was Khabib's chance to enter the upper echelon of UFC stars--the headliners like Brock, Jon Jones. Cris Cyborg who can sell pay-per-views by themselves. 

He can still do so, but this may have been his best chance yet. Who knows if he will he ever headline a multi-million pay-per-view event again? The UFC knows that a rematch with McGregor would be a huge event, but given how things played out in Las Vegas, would it be worth the risk? And from a sporting perspective, does McGregor really deserve a rematch after the mauling he took?

But while his actions cannot be condoned, they are not beyond understanding. McGregor's jabs were sharp, and this is what happens sometimes when you poke the wrong bear. No one likes it when you make fun of their religion, country, or family.

It was just so unnecessary. Things could have been so different, so much better. Nurmagomedov had just crushed the UFC's poster boy, who also happened to be his nemesis. The sky was the limit. 

There is some measure of irony to this. The matter-of-fact dead eyed demeanor that won Khabib legions of fans is controlled. In the Octagon, his fighting style and domination is based on powerful, unerring control.  It would be brutally ironic if he lost so much because of one moment where he lost control.

The UFC will recover. So will Nurmagomedov and McGregor. But in the end, it was Dana White who summed it up best in a media scrum, after watching his hard work turn into what he called 'a s**tshow'.

"I'm usually angry about everything. I'm more disappointed." 

After that, so were we.