Summary
The story of Khabib Nurmagomedov having to wait four years for a title shot, despite being unbeaten and not ranked below #3 throughout that period.
Injuries, injuries and more injuries... and Conor McGregor.
January 2012-May 2013 - unranked
Nurmagomedov entered his UFC debut at 16-0 as he faced Kamal Shalorus in January of 2012, in Nashville.
The Russian won via 3rd round submission, before winning his next three fights against Gleison Tibau, Thiago Tavares and Abel Trujillo in generally dominant fashion.
September 21st 2013 - unranked
His reward was a chance to break into the UFC lightweight rankings for the first time, as he took on Pat Healy at UFC 163 in September of 2013, in Toronto.
Nurmagomedov beat Healy, ranked #10 at the time, via unanimous decision to force his way into the top ten.
January 2014 - ranked #7
Shooting up to number seven in the rankings, Khabib was set to face off with former Strikeforce champion and #2 ranked Gilbert Melendez at UFC 170, but the bout was soon scrapped.
April 19th 2014 - ranked #7
Two months later, the Dagestani did get another chance to shoot up the rankings as he faced future champion Rafael dos Anjos, ranked five at the time.
In a battle between #5 and #7, Nurmagomedov once again showed his domination as he crushed dos Anjos en route to another unanimous decision.
A tough two years followed for the Russian contender, as injuries plagued him.
July 2014 - ranked #3
A bout touted as a title eliminator with Donald Cerrone was targeted for UFC 178 in September of 2015, before it was cancelled after Nurmagomedov suffered a knee injury.
April 2015 - ranked #2
Following knee surgery, the matchup was once again set up as a title eliminator at UFC 187, before the Russian pulled out once again with another knee injury.
October 2015 - ranked #3
Plans were made for a bout with surging contender Tony Ferguson to headline the Ultimate Fighter Finale in December, but Khabib suffered a rib injury and was replaced by Edson Barboza.
April 16th 2016 - ranked #2
The UFC then rescheduled the bout for April of 2016 as the main event in Tampa, Florida.
However, injury struck again as this time 'El Cucuy' pulled out from the event, leaving the Russian seeking an opponent for his first fight in two years.
Promotional newcomer Darrell Horcher was that man, taking the fight at a 160lbs catchweight in a three round affair, with Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans the new main event.
A second round finish, his first in over three years and first in four fights, saw the Eagle back in the Octagon in devastating fashion.
November 12th 2016 - ranked #2
Coming into his first fight in two years ranked #2, the Dagestani then returned to action at the stacked UFC 205, taking on Michael Johnson.
However, after his winning return against Horcher, Khabib was set for a shot at then-champion Eddie Alvarez, before then-featherweight champion Conor McGregor stepped up instead on the same event, leaving Nurmagomedov on the prelims.
Following yet another dominant display, this time submitting Johnson via kimura midway through the third round, the unbeaten Russian called out McGregor with the famous "I want fight with your chicken" quote.
February 2017 - ranked #1
An interim lightweight championship title fight was announced for UFC 209, with Ferguson and Nurmagomedov slated for the third time, just four months after the Johnson win.
The weight cut got the better of Khabib, who was forced to go to hospital the day before weigh-ins, with the fight subsequently cancelled.
December 30th 2017 - ranked #2
It took until the end of December of 2017 for Nurmagomedov to return to action, facing Edson Barboza in the co-main event of UFC 219.
A decidedly one-sided affair saw the Eagle pick up a dominant unanimous decision win and one step closer to an elusive title fight.
April 7th 2018 - ranked #2
That title fight finally arrived four months later, but it would not be without some unbelievable drama.
Once again, Khabib and Ferguson, who was the interim champion, were slated to fight, this time for the title.
Once again, however, there was a pullout, this time El Cucuy falling foul of some loose wires and injuring his knee after tripping over them at a media day.
The scramble to replace Ferguson led to featherweight champion Max Holloway.
Holloway was then made to stop cutting weight by the commission and was taken off the card.
Anthony Pettis reportedly could not come to an agreement with the UFC and Paul Felder was not ranked high enough to compete for the title, according to the New York State Athletic Commission.
#11 ranked Al Iaquinta was then pulled from his fight with Felder to face Nurmagomedov for the title.
However, Iaquinta had already weighed in at 155.2lbs, thus making him ineligible to win the title.
The fight went ahead and Nurmagomedov eased his way to a dominant unanimous decision win and finally being crowned champion.
October 2018 - CHAMPION
From that crazy week in April, the Eagle will now defend his title for the first time in what may well be a similarly crazy build-up in what many are calling the biggest fight in UFC history - against Conor McGregor.
From winning the title in your first shot against a man ranked #11 to your first defence in one of the most anticipated fights in the history of the UFC, it's been a crazy ride for the Eagle.
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