8 YEARS AGO TODAY, DRAKE WALKED OUT WITH CONOR MCGREGOR AT THE UFC 229 CEREMONIAL WEIGH-INS. 🇮🇪🥊 Drake joined McGregor on stage in Las Vegas ahead of his massive showdown with Khabib Nurmagomedov, wearing an Irish flag as the rivalry reached its boiling point. The next night, Drake watched from cageside as Khabib submitted McGregor in the fourth round to move to 27-0 — before the fight erupted into one of the wildest post-fight brawls in UFC history. Do you remember UFC 229? #UFC229 #ConorMcGregor #KhabibNurmagomedov #UFC #MMA
Eight years on, the UFC 229 ceremonial weigh-ins in Las Vegas remain one of the loudest build-up moments the sport has produced. Drake accompanied Conor McGregor onto the stage, draped in an Irish flag, as the feud with Khabib Nurmagomedov reached its peak ahead of their lightweight title fight.
The next night, the rapper sat cageside as Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor in the fourth round, moving to 27-0 in the process. The result was quickly overshadowed by one of the wildest post-fight brawls in UFC history.
The fighters
Nurmagomedov, nicknamed "The Eagle," finished his career at 29-0. The Russian, now 38, trained with Fightspirit Team and built his reputation on relentless grappling. He averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes, a number that reflects how his fights tended to unfold, and he attempted 0.8 submissions per 15 minutes. On the feet, he landed 4.1 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
McGregor, "The Notorious," is 22-7 and also 38 years old. The Irishman, who represents SBG Ireland, fights out of a southpaw stance and owns a 74-inch reach, four inches longer than Nurmagomedov's 70. His striking output is the higher of the two: 5.27 significant strikes landed per minute at 49 percent accuracy. He averages 0.66 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.1 submission attempts.
Why it still resonates
- The fight is remembered as a clash of styles: McGregor's long-range southpaw striking against Nurmagomedov's wrestling-heavy pressure.
- The weigh-in moment showed how far the rivalry had spilled beyond MMA, drawing celebrity attention to the stage.
- The submission win lifted Nurmagomedov to 27-0 at the time, a milestone in a perfect career record that ultimately stood at 29-0.
- The brawl that followed the fight is still among the most discussed episodes in UFC history.
The anniversary has fans revisiting an event that combined a landmark finish with a chaotic aftermath, and the weigh-in walkout remains one of its defining images.
