Former UFC two-weight champion Henry Cejudo believes Khabib Nurmagomedov needed a career-best performance to beat Conor McGregor.
McGregor famously took on the challenge of undefeated star Nurmagomedov in one of the most iconic rivalries in UFC history back in 2018. The Irishman competed well in the opening three rounds, but was submitted in the fourth stanza with the Russian tightening a sickening choke hold to halt the contest.
Despite the contest ending in chaos with both men involved in a mass brawl inside the octagon, McGregor received praise for his performance against a formidable opposition. And former two-weight champion Cejudo believes the conquered fighter showed his capabilities when coming up against one of his opponent's career-best displays.
"He did a really good job," Cejudo said on his YouTube channel when assessing McGregor's defeat four years ago. "A little far shot a little too far away. That just tells you he really respected Conor's defence. Conor could have got out but he played the distance a little. When it comes to top control and dominant wrestling right now, I believe Khabib is one of the greatest of all-time.
"When it comes to dominating his position, so that fight with Conor McGregor, he did an amazing job of being a competitor in the beginning of the round in catching his distance. He was still able to exhaust McGregor, make him think of a lot of things you know looking down to eventually come up with that right hand. This was the best Khabib did in his career especially against a guy like Conor McGregor."
Nurmagomedov's victory against McGregor was arguably the biggest of his career given the star power of the Irishman who had lost just one bout in the UFC prior to the bout. The Russian has now retired with his undefeated record still in tact, having successfully defended his title against Justin Gaethje in his final fight.
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Many have called for a rematch between the pair including UFC president Dana White, who has previously spoken with the Russian about him re-lacing his gloves. McGregor is currently out of action following a broken leg suffered last June in his second consecutive defeat to Dustin Poirier.
However the inactive champion has revealed he does not like to talk about the hugely-successful event due to the unsavoury scenes that unfolded after the stoppage. “Already all world was watching this fight," he said during an appearance on the ESPN show. "People wanted to talk about something like when they want to promote this. Like this fight become like bigger than, bigger than our sport.
"Like all the time talking about this, I don’t like to be honest. I remember every day, almost everything, almost and it’s like people, people never talk about one thing. People never talk about when I jump [out of cage to spark mass brawl], with me jumped all the sport.”
