“Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind it.” This quote couldn’t be more fitting this week, as it marks the 7th anniversary of what many still call the “most disgusting thing” in UFC history—the infamous bus attack at the UFC 223 media day. Moreover, this fight week surpassed any amount of chaos the promotion has ever seen in its 32-year history. Conor McGregor and his Irish entourage stunned the MMA world when they confronted Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team at the Barclays Center. Members of ‘The Eagle’s team reportedly cornered and slapped McGregor’s then-close friend, Artem Lobov, who was also on the UFC 223 fight card, sparking the incident.
Once the Irishman received the call from Lobov, he immediately rushed to the scene to confront Nurmagomedov. What followed was pure chaos. The former double champ launched an attack on the bus carrying Nurmagomedov, throwing a steel dolly at it and injuring several fighters inside including Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg. The duo was ultimately pulled from the card. ‘The Eagle’ was on that bus, scheduled to fight the next day at UFC 223 for the vacant lightweight title. Originally, the UFC Hall Of Famer was set to face Tony Ferguson, but a freak injury in the form of tripping over some cables backstage forced Ferguson to pull out. This is when then 145lbs champ Max Holloway decided to step up on short notice and go a for second belt.
However, the New York State Athletic Commission refused to clear Max Holloway to compete, despite naming him as a last-minute replacement. More contenders were reportedly brought in including Anthony Pettis who couldn’t make weight. Although, the former champ had time to make the 155lbs limit but ultimately decided against it as a matchup against Khabib was a stylistic nightmare for him. This is something ‘Showtime’ revealed many years later. Next in line was Paul Felder who was on a three-fight win streak. But ‘The Irish Dragon’ wasn’t sanctioned by NSAC to fight for the title as he wasn’t ranked in the top 15 at the time.
Eventually, Felder’s UFC 223 opponent Al Iaquinta stepped up on one day’s notice. Although he weighed in 0.2 pounds over the title limit, which technically made him ineligible to win the belt, Dana White reportedly told him they’d ‘make something work’ under the commission’s rules. With the 7th anniversary of the infamous bus attack having passed last week, today also marks seven years since Khabib Nurmagomedov’s dominant victory over Iaquinta. To honor the moment, Nurmagomedov recently posted a picture from the fight on his Instagram story, writing: “Exactly 7 years ago Time has passed so quickly ))”
MMA: UFC 229-Nurmagomedov vs McGregor, Oct 6, 2018, Las Vegas, NV, USA Khabib Nurmagomedov red gloves fights Conor McGregor with blue gloves during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports, 06.10.2018 21:59:59, 11394153, NPStrans, T-Mobile Arena, Khabib Nurmagomedov, wow, MMA, TopPic, Conor McGregor PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xStephenxR.xSylvaniex 11394153
That night became a defining moment for Khabib Nurmagomedov, who weathered the chaos and finally clinched the UFC lightweight title with a dominant unanimous decision victory. But make no mistake—Al Iaquinta wasn’t just a late fill-in. On short notice, he stood toe-to-toe with the undefeated Dagestani and pushed him to the limit, becoming one of the very few in MMA to take the Dagestani prospect the full five rounds.
Given the circumstances, Iaquinta’s gritty and relentless performance left a lasting impression. Even years later, that battle remains one of the most respected displays of heart and toughness in UFC history. But what exactly makes Khabib Nurmagomedov so dangerous inside the cage? Let’s hear it straight from the man who went the distance with him—Al Iaquinta.
What truly sets Khabib Nurmagomedov apart as a relentless force in the Octagon?
Though Al Iaquinta never held the UFC lightweight title, his performance at UFC 223 secured his place in MMA history. On just a day’s notice, Iaquinta stepped in and went five hard rounds with Khabib Nurmagomedov—a man who had steamrolled every opponent before and after. While many top-tier fighters crumbled under ‘The Eagle’s pressure, Iaquinta endured, round after round, refusing to be finished. That night didn’t just shape Iaquinta’s legacy—it also became a key chapter in the Dagestani sensation’s dominant run, alongside wins over stars like Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier.
During a conversation with Ariel Helwani, Iaquinta was asked what separates Nurmagomedov from the rest. He explained: “He knows how to use his strength. … I kind of relate to when I roll with Matt Serra. Matt is a big guy, what 200 plus pounds, but when he’s on top of you, he feels like 10,000 pounds. Not because he’s a big guy but because of how compact he is and where he’s using his weight. He knows exactly how to distribute his weight in the right place at the right time to get the reaction that he wants to advance his position and I think Khabib is a master at that.”
Now that quote paints a clear picture of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s brilliance—but let’s flip the script. What’s your take on Nurmagomedov’s performance that night against Al Iaquinta? Do you believe the American could’ve pulled off one of the greatest upsets in UFC history if he had a full training camp? Drop your thoughts below.
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