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Despite a tumultuous week, Khabib Nurmagomedov got the job done.
Nurmagomedov stepped in against short-notice replacement Al Iaquinta on Saturday night at UFC 223, dominating all five rounds to walk away the newly crowned UFC lightweight champion.
He wasn’t the only one to walk out of the cage in Brooklyn wearing championship gold though. In the co-main event, Rose Namajunas proved her title-winning performance over Joanna Jedrzejczyk was no fluke, outpointing the former champion to retain her belt in an excellent back-and-forth affair.
Check out the reactions to UFC 223 from MMA’s most notable pros.
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Al Iaquinta
Iaquinta just look like he bout to go out there and lay down.If he shows up to fight he stand a chance. Khabib got so many holes in his game
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) April 8, 2018
Almost. This is the latest I’ve stayed up since Christmas Eve 1989. pic.twitter.com/5FiGSVazoj
— Heather Heat Hardy (@HeatherHardyBox) April 8, 2018
Let’s go @ALIAQUINTA
— Brian Camozzi (@BrianCamozzi) April 8, 2018
#UFC223 hasn’t disappointed!! And we still have the main event!!!!
— scott askham (@scottaskham1) April 8, 2018
#WarRaginAl!! I think he can do it guuuuys #UFC223
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 8, 2018
Regardless of how the events went down this week, this PPV has absolutely delivered. Amazing fights, and we still have Khabib - Raging Al
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) April 8, 2018
Lamb to the slaughter
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) April 8, 2018
@ALIAQUINTA back to his feet 4 times nobody done that yet #UFC223
— AlexSpartanNicholson (@spartanlife32) April 8, 2018
I feel smothered just watching this fight @TeamKhabib #khabibtime #ufc223
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 8, 2018
If he takes you down, he's f'ing you up. @TeamKhabib @ufc
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) April 8, 2018
This man flails for a takedown then begs you to just give up
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) April 8, 2018
AI has a ❤️ that’s for sure @ufc
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) April 8, 2018
Fighting Khabib is like... #ufc223 pic.twitter.com/kcbhR3LJXu
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 8, 2018
Raging Al showing his toughness. Trying to draw Khabib in but Khabib having none of it. Score long shots and another round #ufc223
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) April 8, 2018
Khabib decides to keep it standing and wins that round too. 3-0 @TeamKhabib #ufc223
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 8, 2018
.@TeamKhabib jab is landing at will. Would like to see @ALIAQUINTA time it with a slip counter. @ufc
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) April 8, 2018
Round 5... #ufc223
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 8, 2018
Terrible. He’s fighting a dude who was getting ready for a 3 rounder
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) April 8, 2018
The next challenger for Khabib! That bear has grown-up and wants a rematch!!! #ufc223 pic.twitter.com/kpbWI9kfTp
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 8, 2018
First Muslim champion congrats @TeamKhabib #ufc223
— Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) April 8, 2018
Shoutout @ALIAQUINTA. Getting ready for a 3 rounder vs a Muy Thai fighter and still in there
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) April 8, 2018
Long Island be proud! He is yours! On 1 days notice this man went 5 round close with one of the worlds greatest. I love Al! #strongisland #serralongo
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) April 8, 2018
So... does that mean we have three lightweight @ufc champions now??? @TeamKhabib @TheNotoriousMMA & @TonyFergusonXT
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) April 8, 2018
2 x 50-43s!!! Wow!!! @ufc
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) April 8, 2018
Can’t hate on @TeamKhabib he’s the best but @ALIAQUINTA is a gladiator hell of a fight
— AlexSpartanNicholson (@spartanlife32) April 8, 2018
Khabib wants 30 minutes and then he's ready to fight anybody. I believe him. #UFC223
— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) April 8, 2018
Not sure why they keep saying “undisputed” lightweight champ. Literally 2 guys have legitimate disputes with Khabib being champ. Both Conor & Tony present real problems for him that haven’t been seen yet.
— Joe Ellenberger (@JoeEllenberger) April 8, 2018
Rose Namajunas vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Let’s go @joannamma
— Marcin Held (@MarcinHeld) April 8, 2018
It’s gonna be your night #ufc223 @ufc @UFCEurope
I’m ready for this fight #JJ vs #RN @ufc
— Manny Gamburyan (@MannyGamburyan) April 8, 2018
Here we go. Thug and JJ. Yes, I’ve wanted to use that emoji all night.
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) April 8, 2018
Ready for this fight!! I got Joanna getting her belt back!!
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 8, 2018
Both women look sharp! @rosenamajunas takes Round 1 tho @ufc
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) April 8, 2018
J2 has her right glued to her jaw so far, protecting from those lefts Thug killed her with in their first fight. #ufc223
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 8, 2018
Very good close round. Not sure who got it. Leaning a little more towards rose
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 8, 2018
.@rosenamajunas left hook seems to always find the target. @joannamma looks must sharper than the first fight. But Rose gets round 2 aswell. @ufc
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) April 8, 2018
Jesus @rosenamajunas is on point tonight! So impressive @ufc
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) April 8, 2018
You can tell Joanna tried to work her footwork, she moving laterally more than before but she’s tripping over herself #UFC223
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 8, 2018
JJ champion does not get tired. #UFC223
— Matt Schnell (@DANGER_Caged) April 8, 2018
Commentary is biased right now I got Joanna winning 2-1 right now.
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 8, 2018
Hella fight in both these girl's hearts. Props to both @rosenamajunas and @joannamma no matter how this night goes down in the books @ufc
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) April 8, 2018
2-2? Rose 3-1? Shit I don't know
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) April 8, 2018
2-2?! #ufc223
— Emil Valhalla Meek (@emilvalhalla) April 8, 2018
Instead of two cornermen, the cutman should go in and clean Rose’s nose. It’s full blood. She can’t breathe!!! The reason she’s also fading. #smh
— Siyar The Great (@Siyarized) April 8, 2018
This ones a toss up for me@#UFC223
— Jeremy Kennedy (@JeremyKennedyWC) April 8, 2018
After all the drama....what a fucking card! #ufc233
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) April 8, 2018
Rd 1 - Rose 10-9
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) April 8, 2018
Rd 2 - Rose 10-9
Rd 3 - Joanna 10-9
Rd 4 - Joanna 10-9
Rd 5 - I don’t fucking know
GREAT FIGHT! Glad I’m not a judge!
The girls won. It was a war. @ufc
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) April 8, 2018
I wish this was the main event. They deserved it #UFC223 #RoseJoanna
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) April 8, 2018
Thug Rose turned a corner in her career and smashing the "former" best female striker in the @ufc.
— Johnny Hollywood (@HollywoodCase) April 8, 2018
Amazing to see people like Rose start from nothing and work her way up from the bottom to the top! #TakeOver#Inspiring #ufc223
So proud of @joannamma and @rosenamajunas fighting their hearts out and representing all women and all fighters tonight ❤️ @UFC is lucky to have you both
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) April 8, 2018
That was the best women's straw-weight fight I have ever seen. Great fight ladies! @rosenamajunas @joannamma @ufc
— Jordan Rinaldi (@JordanRinaldi) April 8, 2018
AND STILL!!!!! @rosenamajunas @ufc
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) April 8, 2018
Some ppl bleed and cut easier than others. But she outlanded her by 50 strikes.
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 8, 2018
.@joannamma you are still and will remain one of my favorite fighters! Head up! @ufc
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) April 8, 2018
@rosenamajunas congrats on one of the baddest wins any person could ever dream of. Such an inspiration.
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) April 8, 2018
How can you not love @rosenamajunas great fighter, great personality! Nothing but respect @HypeOrDie Trevor Whitman
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 8, 2018
Gutted for @joannamma !! But what a fight! #UFC223
— scott askham (@scottaskham1) April 8, 2018
I love me some #thug !!
— Sam Alvey (@smilensam) April 8, 2018
I love you Rose !!! #UFC223
— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) April 8, 2018
Renato Moicano vs. Calvin Kattar
Katter struggling for answers to those kicks. It’s like watching a boxer fight a kickboxer here !!! #ufc223
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) April 8, 2018
Everyones left the bar since this fight started #UFC223
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 8, 2018
Chop chop chop chop chop
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) April 8, 2018
Kattar needs some more keytar here in the third. #ufc223 pic.twitter.com/A6gGUjkZhT
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 8, 2018
That leg is gonna hurt tomorrow #UFC223
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) April 8, 2018
Rogan? “You can’t eat leg kicks.”
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 8, 2018
Anik? “They don’t taste very good”
Dad joke of the night bonus goes to... #UFC223
Alright.
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) April 8, 2018
Zabit vs Moicano.
Give me moicano vs zabit #ufc223
— Belal muhammad (@bullyb170) April 8, 2018
Moicano's striking is extremely underrated,Was able to avoid the danger of Stephens to pick him apart and now just solved the Kattar riddle
— Jeremy Kennedy (@JeremyKennedyWC) April 8, 2018
Another great fight.. would love to be matched up with Moicano one day #ufc223
— Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) April 8, 2018
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Kyle Bochniak
Props to the team at @Reebok for fitting Zabit’s last name on his fight kit #UFC223
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 8, 2018
I am bummed that Magomedsharipov is Dagestani as such, probably doesn't embrace his striking resemblance to Abraham Lincoln. #UFC223
— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) April 8, 2018
I like this Russian he knows how to fight like a tall man supposed to!
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 8, 2018
Bochniak don’t give a fuck about your spinning shit! #UFC223
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 8, 2018
Give both these dudes 100Gs. From first fight on Fight Pass to a PPV they turned up
— Kevin MTP Lee (@MoTownPhenom) April 8, 2018
Respect Guys. #ufc223 pic.twitter.com/IBQOFfNnnI
— Mirsad Bektic (@MirsadBekticMMA) April 8, 2018
If that isn't FON, we are in for a real treat the rest of the way. Amazing job by both men. Thank you fellas #ufc223
— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) April 8, 2018
That was awesome!! #ufc223
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) April 8, 2018
The bar is clapping! Amazing!!! #UFC223 #ZabitVSBochniak
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 8, 2018
You have a new fan! @KyleBochniak
— Emil Valhalla Meek (@emilvalhalla) April 8, 2018
Just got my money’s worth.
— Gilbert Melendez (@GilbertMelendez) April 8, 2018
Joe Lauzon vs. Chris Gruetzemacher
I like to fight the winner of this fight... lauzon vs grits either is a good fight
— Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) April 8, 2018
This is sad to watch..
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) April 8, 2018
Towel please!
— Chas Skelly (@ChasSkelly) April 8, 2018
Ref doesn’t seem to care much about his face. #ufc223
— Mirsad Bektic (@MirsadBekticMMA) April 8, 2018
Joe has nothing left to prove; he doesn't need to come out for round three. #ufc223
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 8, 2018
They should have stopped that sooner :/ #UFC223
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) April 8, 2018
Excellent performance by Gruetzemacher. Excellent decision from the corner.
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) April 8, 2018
Lauzon is a fucking warrior. #UFC223
Wow, no quit in fucking Lauzon man. What a g. Great fight! #UFC223
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) April 8, 2018
Good call by Joe's coach. No reason to boo that decision or either fighter's performance. #ufc223
— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) April 8, 2018
@JoeLauzon nothing but respect to you. You are a warrior
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) April 8, 2018
Man, Gritz was in Lauzons face. #UFC223
— Tatiana Suarez (@TSPMMA115) April 8, 2018
Get well fast @JoeLauzon #ufc223 @ufc
— Marcin Held (@MarcinHeld) April 8, 2018
Good stoppage from @JoeLauzon corner Joe is a legend ❤️#ufc223
— Emil Valhalla Meek (@emilvalhalla) April 8, 2018
I’m glad Joes corner stopped that fight. @JoeLauzon is such a warrior! All heart and balls! #ufc223
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) April 8, 2018
Poll
Who had the most impressive performance tonight?
This poll is closed
-
8%
Khabib
-
39%
Rose
-
4%
Moicano
-
34%
Zabit
-
12%
Ragin’ Al
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