To say that it was all Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 205 would be inaccurate.
But make no mistake about it, after some early luck on the feet for Michael Johnson, he was systematically smothered by the typically relentless Russian.
Nurmagomedov rallied after being rocked in the opening minutes of the first round and started ragdolling Johnson around the Octagon.
‘The Menace’ was saved by the bell at the end of the opening frame before Nurmagomedov continued to pour it on from top position when they returned from their stools.
If ‘Big John’ had called it any stage of the second round, nobody would have complained.
After becoming aware that ground-and-pound wasn’t going to persuade John McCarthy to wave it off, the Dagestani attacked an arm midway through the third.
There were shades of Mir vs. Nogueira in the kimura on to which Nurmagomedov latched but Johnson had the wherewithal to tap and set his undefeated opponent up for a shot at the winner of the UFC lightweight title fight between Conor McGregor and Eddie Alvarez and, spoiler alert, it was the Irishman who won out in spectacular style.
It's over! 24-0 for @TeamKhabib! Will he face the winner of tonight's main event? #UFC205 #UFCNYC https://t.co/TxyDhmQYCK
— eir Sport (@eirSport) November 13, 2016
“I want to stay humble,” Nurmagomedov said after his victory, the 24th consecutive one of an incredible career.
“But I have to talk because the other guys talk too much and you know what’s interesting? I understand the crazy power that the UFC PR machine has.
“Your guy, at the beginning of the year, he tapped like a chicken but at the end of the year, he’s fighting for the title. Crazy!
“This is true. This is not trash talking.
“There are only 6 million Irish. In Russia, there are 150 million people.
“I want to fight with your chicken because that’s the number one easy fight in the lightweight division.”
Now all he has to do is stay healthy but, as we’ve learned over the years, that’s easier said than done at AKA.
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