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Robert Whittaker and Justin Gaethje stay relaxed in their rooms. Khabib Nurmagomedov chats with Daniel Cormier. Jared Cannonier poses for portraits. Khabib and Gaethje face off at a beachside presser. SPECIAL START TIME of 2pm ET / 11am PT! Order UFC 254 now: https://bit.ly/2vNIBE8 (U.S. only)
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Daniel Cormier and Ariel Helwani discuss Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement after beating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254. DC describes his emotional reaction inside the arena after Khabib’s announcement and why he believes he won’t be back to fighting.
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The stars of UFC 254 successfully make weight and face off, and the stage is set for the lightweight title unification bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.
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Justin Gaethje reflects on how far he’s come from a small town. Jared Cannonier visualizes a win and inspires Walt Harris. Gaethje and Robert Whittaker talk to media about their upcoming bouts. SPECIAL START TIME of 2pm ET / 11at PT! Order UFC 254 now: https://bit.ly/2vNIBE8 (U.S. only)
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Tai Tuivasa introduces the NELK Boys to shoeys. Daniel Cormier teases teammate Khabib. Justin Gaethje signs his name and chats with Dana White. Jared Cannonier and Robert Whittaker preview their pivotal bout.
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Khabib cuts weight with help from his team. Robert Whittaker games as usual. Jared Cannonier and Casey Kenney help one another across weight classes. Justin Gaethje pushes himself on the mats.
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JON JONES reacts after Khabib Nurmagomedov passes him in P4P rankings
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TONY FERGUSON'S live reaction to Khabib Nurmagomedov defeating Justin Gaethje at UFC 254
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KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV passes Jon Jones in pound-for-pound rankings
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MICHAEL CHANDLER eyeing fight with Justin Gaethje following UFC 254
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KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV reveals X-ray of broken foot sustained before UFC 254
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KHAMZAT CHIMAEV training for upcoming fight with Leon Edwards on December 19
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DANIEL CORMIER denies theories about Khabib's weigh-in
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CONOR MCGREGOR training for Dustin Poirier fight on January 23
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UFC 254’s Walt Harris, Lauren Murphy, Justin Gaethje, Sam Alvey, Jared Cannonier and backup Michael Chandler train outdoors. Then everyone (including Buffer) boards the flight to Abu Dhabi. Khabib Nurmagomedov gets an enthusiastic welcome at the hotel.
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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Unbeaten lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from mixed martial arts after stopping Justin Gaethje with a triangle choke early in the second round at UFC 254 on Saturday night.
Nurmagomedov (29-0) made the announcement immediately after he impressively finished his first fight since the death of his father and lifelong coach in July. Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov had a heart problem exacerbated by COVID-19, and his son was overcome by tears in the cage moments after choking Gaethje unconscious 1:34 into the second round of his third UFC title defense.
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
Respect. #UFC254 pic.twitter.com/pgS1YhI2CF
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
“This is my last fight,” Nurmagomedov said. “There’s no way I’m going to be back without my father. I spoke to my mother. She don’t know how I fight without father, but I promised it’s going to be my last fight, and if I give my word, I have to follow it.”
"Today is my last fight here in UFC." #UFC254 pic.twitter.com/sq6R9LxN1i
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
The 32-year-old Nurmagomedov was active with strikes and with grappling against Gaethje (22-3), the dangerous brawler who had knocked out four consecutive elite opponents while winning the UFC’s interim lightweight title.
After spending the first round largely trading punches and kicks with the aggressive Gaethje, Nurmagomedov used his unparalleled wrestling skills to take down Gaethje early in the second round and then worked into position for the finishing choke.
Gaethje appeared to tap out at least twice before the referee noticed and stopped the bout, by which time Gaethje was unconscious. He bounced up quickly and shared a moment of mutual respect with the dominant Russian champion.
“I know he was in a bad spot, but whether he was or not, he did what he needed to do,” Gaethje said. “I know his father is so proud.”
Also at UFC 254, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker made his case for another title shot with a solid unanimous decision over fellow contender Jared Cannonier in the penultimate bout on Fight Island.
Nurmagomedov’s first fight in 13 months would be an appropriate farewell for one of the most dynamic competitors in recent MMA history. The Dagestan-born grappling specialist developed a well-rounded game under the tutelage of his father and a Bay Area-based MMA gym, culminating in his ascent to the UFC title in 2018.
Legendary. pic.twitter.com/adLnh73AMr
— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
Nurmagomedov stopped Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier in his next two bouts before his yearlong absence from competition. His victory over McGregor made him one of the world’s most famous combat sports athletes, and the UFC scheduled this pay-per-view show at an earlier-than-normal time to cater to his vast fan base in Russia and Europe.
But Nurmagomedov has spoken of retirement before, and his announcement confirmed he is finished with the sport after running through most of the UFC lightweight division.
“Dustin and Conor are going to fight in January,” Nurmagomedov said, referring to the probable meeting between the former contenders at UFC 257. “I choked them both out. I’m not interested in this.”
Earlier, Whittaker (22-5) gave a disciplined, active performance with impressive striking to earn his second straight UFC victory since losing his title to Israel Adesanya in late 2019.
Capping his effort by dropping Cannonier with a combination midway through the final round, Whittaker won two of three rounds on every scorecard while soundly outstriking Cannonier (13-5), who took his first loss in nearly 2 1/2 years.
Whittaker likely earned a chance at a rematch with Adesanya with the victory, but he didn’t call out the champion after his bout, instead expressing only excitement about returning home to put up his family’s Christmas tree. Whittaker withdrew from a bout with Cannonier scheduled for March in Las Vegas because he felt burned out on MMA.
“I’m very happy it’s all over,” Whittaker said. “We got the result we wanted. Work’s done, baby. I’m coming home.”
Earlier in the show, Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov stopped Walt Harris with a kick to the chest and punches on the ground 1:15 into the second round. Flyweight Lauren Murphy also bolstered her case for a title shot with a second-round stoppage of Liliya Shakirova by rear naked choke for her fourth straight victory.
UFC 254 was the last of five shows in a month inside the promotion’s secure bubble on Yas Island. The UFC, which paused competition for only eight weeks early in the coronavirus pandemic, returns to its hometown next week to begin a series of at least five consecutive shows on its corporate campus in Las Vegas.
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Champions collide as Khabib Nurmagomedov faces off against the human highlight, Justin Gaethje in the UFC 254 main event on Saturday, October 24. Go behind the scenes and watch these athletes prepare. SPECIAL START TIME of 2pm ET / 11at PT! Order UFC 254 now: https://bit.ly/2vNIBE8 (U.S. only)
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Interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje shocked many UFC fans around the world with this dominant performance over Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 earlier this year. Gaethje gets his shot at Khabib Nurmagomedov in a champion vs champion bout that headlines UFC 254 on Saturday, October 24. Order UFC 254 now: https://bit.ly/2vNIBE8 (U.S. only)
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Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker will face Jared Cannonier in the co-main event of UFC 254 on Saturday, October 24. SPECIAL START TIME of 2pm ET / 11at PT! Order UFC 254 now:
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Ahead of UFC 254: Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje and the UFC lightweight title unification fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje, UFC fighters make UFC 254 fight predictions and preview the fight and discuss the x-factors.
Timestamps:
0:00 Bas Rutten
3:19 Dominick Reyes
3:36 Leon Edwards
4:04 Michael Chiesa
5:48 Alex Volkanovski
6:53 Colby Covington
7:17 Stephen Thompson (Winner of the UFC 253 Predictions)
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Tony Ferguson returns to Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show to discuss why (2:31) he believes that he’s not fighting at UFC 254 against either Dustin Poirier or Michael Chandler. “El Cucuy” also expresses his desire to compete and gives his thoughts on who he’d (11:38) want to fight if he was offered a bout for UFC 255 in November. Ferguson talks about his weight cut to 155 pounds and (25:02) Dana White saying he would try to book the Khabib Nurmagomedov fight with him for a sixth time.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov defended his lightweight championship against Conor McGregor in he biggest fight in UFC history back in 2019. Nurmagomedov faces interim champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 on Saturday, October 24.
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UFC welterweight Colby Covington returns to Submission Radio to discuss his win over Tyron Woodley, finishing woodley and injuring his rib, the adversity he's faced in his career to get him to this point, the post-fight aftermath and his controversial comments, wanting Jorge Masvidal next and that fight being targetted instead of the Nate Diaz rematch, talks with Dana White, when and where it could happen, if he's concerned about whether Masvidal's team would be interested in the fight, comparing his sparring sessions with Masvidal to the ones with Woodley, Khamzat Chimaev and his rise through the ranks, as well as his callout of Covington, his prediction for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje, being so close to Khabib's manager, and more!
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:33 The Woodley win and getting the finish
2:05 From humble beginnings in Oregon to speaking to the President
4:38 Overcoming early adversity in his career
6:43 Advice for young fighters
8:00 Why he didn't call for Woodley's retirement post-fight and called him a "great champion"
9:23 Colby's controversial post-fight comments and the fallout
12:02 Leon Edwards calling him out for December
13:05 Dana White targeting Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby fight over the BMF rematch
14:59 If the Masvidal fight would be 3 round or 5 rounds and on a PPV or Fight Night
16:18 The likeliness of this fight coming together
17:24 If Masvidal is interested and would accept
18:45 Sparring Masvidal compared to sparring Woodley
20:00 Khamzat Chimaev calling him out
21:30 UFC 253
22:56 Khabib vs. Gaethje prediction
24:12 Being around Ali Abdelaziz at the Trump rally
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}