Khabib Nurmagomedov recently reflected on one of the most explosive nights in UFC history — his win over Conor McGregor at UFC 229. The undefeated lightweight legend described the fight as something he had been waiting for his whole career, calling it his “vacation.”
Speaking to a live audience in Chicago, “The Eagle” was asked about his feud with McGregor, which became one of the most heated rivalries the sport has ever seen. McGregor famously went after Khabib’s family, religion, and team, turning the buildup into pure chaos. But when fight night finally came in October 2018, Khabib dominated every round before finishing McGregor with a brutal submission in the fourth.
Nurmagomedov said that victory was more than just a win — it was a personal moment of satisfaction. “One thing that’s very beautiful in this world,” he told fans, “is when you don’t like somebody, you go inside the cage, smash him, and they give you money. Outside of the cage, if you do this, you go to jail.”
The Russian superstar compared that night to a peaceful getaway. “I was waiting for this moment so long,” he said. “I found that I cannot only fight, I can talk too. I used this moment to enjoy — like the way you go to the Maldives? Same thing. It was my vacation.”
Of course, that “vacation” didn’t end calmly. Right after McGregor tapped, Khabib jumped over the octagon fence and attacked a member of McGregor’s team, sparking one of the wildest brawls in UFC history.
Reflecting on that decision, Khabib admitted it wasn’t his proudest moment. “It was very emotional,” he said. “I don’t think it was a good example. Sometimes, we never know how we’re going to act in that moment. You can judge people while eating popcorn, but when you’re in that place, it’s different.”
Even years later, fans still talk about UFC 229 as the most intense night in MMA. For Khabib, it will always be remembered as both a career highlight — and, in his own words, the best vacation of his life.
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