If there’s one word to describe Khabib Nurmagomedov’s MMA career, it’s domination. With a 29-0 record, ‘The Eagle’ made a habit of smashing his opponents and leaving them befuddled inside the Octagon. But while his name gets linked to the mauling of Conor McGregor at UFC 229, there’s another name that doesn’t get brought up enough—Al Iaquinta.

Iaquinta was never supposed to fight Khabib. In fact, he wasn’t even on the shortlist. But due to multiple fights falling through, ‘Raging Al’ got the call on 24 hours notice for UFC 223. What followed was nothing short of incredible. And according to Joe Rogan and his crew, Iaquinta managed to pull off something even Conor McGregor failed to do!

Joe Rogan and crew reveal how Khabib Nurmagomedov’s toughest fight wasn’t against Conor McGregor  

During the JRE Fight Companion on February 8, 2025, Joe Rogan and his guests revisited this forgotten chapter, and they had a lot to say about how the fight played out. Bryan Callen started off the discussion by stating, “But Al Iaquinta, people forget… Khabib couldn’t take him down. ”

While Nurmagomedov won every round of the fight, Iaquinta survived to a decision something that couldn’t be said for many of ‘The Eagle’s opponents. Rogan then chimed in with, “Al survived with Khabib but still, it was a short notice for Al. I know it’s a different fight for Khabib but he struggled in that fight. Al had his moments.”

Former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub agreed with the sentiment giving credit to ‘Raging Al’s takedown defense in the bout. But according to former UFC welterweight champion, Matt Serra, “Al was also set to fight Paul Felder, so he was about to fight a totally different fight. 24 hours notice, he had the best fight with Khabib anybody ever had. It’s amazing.”

According to the fight stats, ‘The Eagle’ landed 6 of 15 takedowns and 172 total strikes. As such, while he still won decisively, the fight didn’t have the same brutal one-sided nature as many of his others.

This led Joe Rogan to sum it up the best as he stated, “He didn’t get dominated, he lost the fight but he didn’t get dominated. Like Conor did, like a lot of other guys did, who got smashed.”

Ultimately, Al Iaquinta’s performance against Khabib Nurmagomedov deserves more credit. On just a day’s notice, he lasted longer and made Nurmagomedov work harder than most.

Conor McGregor may have been the biggest name to fight ‘The Eagle’ but if we’re talking about the toughest fight the Russian ever had, ‘Ragin Al’ might just take that crown. But what’s even more intriguing is what path Al Iaquinta took after going the distance with Khabib Nurmagomedov, because the answer, may surprise you!

After the UFC, Al Iaquinta has now set his sights on becoming “the champion of real estate” 

Al Iaquinta was once the underdog who defied expectations inside the Octagon. Now, he’s doing the same in the real estate world. But how did a man who traded blows with one of the most feared fighters in MMA history end up trading properties instead?

It turns out, the shift wasn’t as unexpected as it seems. Even while making his way through the UFC’s lightweight division, Iaquinta had his eyes on something beyond the fight game. Injuries had slowed him down, but instead of staying stuck in limbo, he pivoted—flipping houses, closing deals, and eventually becoming a full-fledged real estate mogul. By 2023, he had his own office, proving that his hustle wasn’t just limited to the cage.

According to an interview with The New York Post, Iaquinta confessed, “I have such an advantage over any agent just because I’ve been through fighting and I have something they don’t have. The goal now is to become the champion of real estate.”

Former UFC bantamweight champ Aljamain Sterling, another New Yorker with fighting roots, has also joined him in the real estate game. According to ‘Raging Al’, “We’ve been through it all together, traveled the world together, trained together, fought together. I know I can count on Aljo and vice versa.”

Whether it’s surviving against Khabib Nurmagomedov for five rounds or outmaneuvering competitors in the housing market, one thing is certain, Al Iaquinta refuses to be counted out. He may not have worn UFC gold, but his battle with ‘The Eagle’ remains a testament to grit, determination, and an unbreakable spirit. What do you think about his iconic performance? Did he truly out-shine Conor McGregor in that fight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!