UFC 223: Khabib vs. Iaquinta Full Fight Card, Date & Details
UFC 223: Khabib vs. Iaquinta
United States
Main Card • Final
Russia
R5, 5:00
Vacant Title Fight
R5, 5:00
Title Fight
Poland
Brazil
R3, 5:00
R3, 5:00
Fight of the Night
R2, 5:00
Performance of the Night
Prelims • Final
R3, 5:00
Canada
R1, 0:53
Performance of the Night
R3, 5:00
Australia
R3, 5:00
Official Event Results
Vacant Title Bout
Title Bout
$50k FOTN
$50k Bonus
Official Post-Fight Bonus Awards
$50,000 Post-Fight Bonus Recipients
Fight of the Night: Zabit Magomedsharipov and Kyle Bochniak each collected $50,000 for their breathless, three-round featherweight war on the main card.
Performance of the Night: Chris Gruetzemacher earned $50,000 for battering veteran Joe Lauzon to a second-round corner stoppage, while Olivier Aubin-Mercier secured $50,000 for his 53-second body-knee finish of Evan Dunham.
Reported Payouts & Estimated Purses
Fighter Purses & Total Payout Estimates
| Fighter | Result | Base Purse | Win / Finish Bonus | Performance Bonus | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WIN | $500,000 | — | — | $500,000 | |
| WIN | $151,000 | $151,000 | — | $302,000 | |
| LOSS | $168,000 | — | — | $168,000 | |
| LOSS | $151,000 | — | — | $151,000 | |
| WIN | $36,000 | $36,000 | $50,000 | $122,000 | |
| WIN | $18,000 | $18,000 | $50,000 | $86,000 | |
| LOSS | $85,000 | — | — | $85,000 | |
| WIN | $14,000 | $14,000 | $50,000 | $78,000 | |
| WIN | $36,000 | $36,000 | — | $72,000 | |
| LOSS | $21,000 | — | $50,000 | $71,000 | |
| WIN | $33,000 | $33,000 | — | $66,000 | |
| LOSS | $57,000 | — | — | $57,000 | |
| WIN | $25,000 | $25,000 | — | $50,000 | |
| WIN | $20,000 | $20,000 | — | $40,000 | |
| LOSS | $28,000 | — | — | $28,000 | |
| LOSS | $24,000 | — | — | $24,000 | |
| LOSS | $16,000 | — | — | $16,000 | |
| LOSS | $14,000 | — | — | $14,000 |
*Purses are estimates and compiled based on commission reporting precedents, UFC payout structures, and contemporaneous investigative reports (the New York State Athletic Commission does not publicly disclose official fighter purses under state regulatory guidelines). Estimated totals include official post-fight performance and Fight of the Night bonus awards ($50,000 each) and do not account for private pay-per-view dividends, discretionary locker room bonuses, or Reebok compliance pay.
Historic UFC Records Set
Promotional Records Established at UFC 223
Khabib Nurmagomedov made promotional history by becoming the first Russian-born undisputed champion in UFC history upon winning the vacant Lightweight Championship.
Nurmagomedov extended his career record to an unmatched 26-0, establishing the longest unblemished start to an active mixed martial arts career when capturing a UFC world title.
Judges Glenn Trowbridge and Sal D’Amato both submitted 50-43 scorecards in favor of Nurmagomedov, marking one of the widest championship decision margins in modern UFC history.
The main event set a UFC record for turbulence, cycling through Tony Ferguson, Max Holloway, Anthony Pettis, Paul Felder, and finally Al Iaquinta inside fight week.
Zabit Magomedsharipov and Kyle Bochniak combined for 301 total strikes and 140 significant strikes in an instant classic that earned 2018 Fight of the Year nominations.
Rose Namajunas became the first strawweight to defeat Joanna Jędrzejczyk twice, retaining her belt across 25 championship minutes with triple 49-46 scorecards.
Chris Gruetzemacher battered Joe Lauzon with 128 significant strikes across two rounds (12.8 strikes per minute), forcing Lauzon’s corner to wave off the contest.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier needed just 53 seconds to demolish seasoned veteran Evan Dunham with brutal knees to the liver, earning his first Performance of the Night bonus.
UFC 223 attracted a sellout crowd of 17,026 spectators to the Barclays Center, producing a massive $3,007,108 live gate in Brooklyn.
Accepting the championship bout on roughly 28 hours’ notice, Al Iaquinta became the first man to take Khabib Nurmagomedov the full 25-minute distance.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz snapped Felice Herrig’s four-fight winning streak by connecting on 126 significant strikes in an intense preliminary split decision.
With the opening bell of Nurmagomedov vs. Iaquinta, Conor McGregor was officially stripped of the lightweight championship for inactivity, concluding a 511-day tenure without a title defense.
When and where did UFC 223 take place?
UFC 223: Khabib vs. Iaquinta took place on Saturday, April 7, 2018, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Who won the main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Al Iaquinta?
Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Al Iaquinta via unanimous decision (50–44, 50–43, 50–43) after dominating the action over five rounds to win the undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship.
Why was Al Iaquinta ineligible to win the official title on the scale?
Iaquinta weighed in at 155.2 lbs on Friday morning for his originally scheduled three-round non-title bout against Paul Felder (which permitted a 1-pound allowance). Because championship bouts require an exact 155.0-pound limit, the NYSAC ruled that only Nurmagomedov could formally win the belt, though UFC President Dana White confirmed the UFC would treat Iaquinta as champion had he won.
Who won the co-main event rematch between Rose Namajunas and Joanna Jędrzejczyk?
Defending strawweight champion Rose Namajunas defeated former champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk via unanimous decision (49–46, 49–46, 49–46) in a technical, 25-minute championship rematch.
What happened during the Conor McGregor bus attack incident?
On Thursday of fight week, Conor McGregor and an entourage entered the Barclays Center loading dock and attacked a bus carrying fighters, hurling a hand truck through the window. Broken glass injured fighters Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg, causing their bouts to be cancelled, while Artem Lobov was removed for his involvement, and McGregor was subsequently arrested by the NYPD.
Why did Khabib’s opponent change so many times during fight week?
Original opponent Tony Ferguson suffered a torn LCL six days before the event. Featherweight champion Max Holloway stepped in but was pulled during his weight cut by NYSAC doctors. Anthony Pettis and Paul Felder were briefly considered before Long Island native Al Iaquinta officially stepped in on Friday afternoon.
Was Conor McGregor stripped of the lightweight belt at UFC 223?
Yes. Conor McGregor was officially stripped of the UFC Lightweight Championship for inactivity as soon as the opening bell rang for Nurmagomedov vs. Iaquinta, ending his 511-day championship tenure without defending the title.
Who won the $50,000 post-fight bonus awards at UFC 223?
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Kyle Bochniak earned Fight of the Night, while Chris Gruetzemacher and Olivier Aubin-Mercier received Performance of the Night honors.
Why was Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Kyle Bochniak so memorable?
The bout featured non-stop, high-level action, capped off by an iconic final minute where an exhausted Bochniak stuck his tongue out, smiled through heavy blood, and traded wild power hooks in the pocket with Magomedsharipov until the final horn.
What was the attendance and live gate for UFC 223?
UFC 223 attracted a sellout crowd of 17,026 spectators, generating an official live gate of $3,007,108 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
How many pay-per-view buys did UFC 223 generate?
Industry estimates report that UFC 223 generated approximately 350,000 pay-per-view buys in North America.
How did Chris Gruetzemacher defeat Joe Lauzon?
Gruetzemacher overwhelmed Lauzon with a blistering output of 128 significant strikes through two rounds, inflicting heavy swelling that prompted Lauzon’s corner to throw in the towel before round three.
How fast did Olivier Aubin-Mercier finish Evan Dunham?
Aubin-Mercier stopped Evan Dunham in just 53 seconds of Round 1 with punishing knees to the body followed by ground punches.
Who were the commentators and announcer for UFC 223?
The event was called cageside by play-by-play lead Jon Anik alongside color analysts Joe Rogan and lightweight contender Paul Felder (who joined the booth after his scheduled bout was cancelled), with Bruce Buffer announcing inside the Octagon.
How did the events of UFC 223 lead to UFC 229?
The hotel lobby confrontation between Khabib and Artem Lobov, followed by McGregor’s bus attack at UFC 223, served as the direct catalyst for the highest-selling MMA event in history: UFC 229: Khabib vs. McGregor in October 2018.
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