Opinion: Gleison Tibau Robbed of a Win Against Undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 148

In a game full of blood and violence, there was one man who conquered it all without a scratch. Maintaining a win streak is one of the most difficult things to do in MMA, but Khabib Nurmagomedov did it effortlessly. The Dagestani fighter, with his untarnished record, has etched his name in the MMA Hall of Fame as one of the greatest to ever step into the octagon.

Undefeated in 29 professional bouts, Nurmagomedov has become a symbol of dominance, and sheer excellence. Moreover, many consider him to be the greatest MMA fighter ever. Yet, in the midst of his illustrious career, there remains one fight that stirred controversy in his otherwise flawless reign. It was Nurmagomedov’s second UFC fight at UFC 148 against Gleison Tibau.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Gleison Tibau’s record leading up to UFC 148

11 years ago, at UFC 148, Khabib Nurmagomedov wasn’t the legend that we know today. Instead, he was a rising star in the world of MMA with a record of 17-0. Further, it was Nurmagomedov’s second fight in the UFC. Before that, ‘The Eagle’ had a successful run at ProFC, bagging 6 victories in 6 fights for the promotion.

Coming to his opponent, Gleison Tibau was a much more experienced fighter leading up to this PPV. He had been in the UFC for around 6 years. In this period, Tibau managed to bag 11 victories in 16 UFC fights. Before UFC 148, Tibau was enjoying a 3-fight win streak, where he had defeated big names like Rafael dos Anjos.

Overall, he had a professional record of 26 victories with 7 losses. Looking at the two fighters’ age, Nurmagomedov was still in his learning phase at 23 years. On the other hand, Tibau was arguably in his prime, at 28 years of age.

When went down in Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Gleison Tibau

It was evident from the get-go that Tibau had come to fight. The MMA veteran blocked every single takedown attempt Nurmagomedov threw at him, defying all expectations. Further, in the third round, an on-screen graphic displayed Tibau’s perfect 11/11 record in thwarting Nurmagomedov’s takedowns.

As the fight progressed, ‘The Eagle’ dictated the pace, showcasing his aggressive style. In exchanges with Tibau, he threw some strong shots, demonstrating his hunger to seize control. On the other hand, Tibau adopted a counter-heavy approach, attempting to neutralize Nurmagomedov’s attacks.

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The result was an intriguing back-and-forth battle, where Nurmagomedov’s striking prowess shone, leaving a cut around Tibau’s right eye. Tibau, however, had moments in the second and third rounds where he seemed to land punches that rocked the future lightweight champion. Despite these close calls, neither fighter hit the canvas.

Surprisingly, it was Tibau who initiated the wrestling, securing a couple of takedowns during the fight. In the final round, Nurmagomedov’s superior conditioning became evident, but it appeared that Tibau failed to do enough to secure a decisive victory.

The judges’ decision and stats

When the judges’ scorecards were revealed, it sent shockwaves throughout the MMA community. All three judges—Jeff Collins, Mark Smith, and Glenn Trowbridge—unanimously scored the fight 30-27 in favor of Nurmagomedov. This decision left many fans and analysts perplexed, given the closely contested nature of the bout.

Delving into the statistics provided by UFC only deepens the mystery. Tibau won the significant strike battle by a narrow margin of 28-25 and led in total strikes, 46-33. Looking at the rounds individually, no clear separation emerges. One round ended in a tie in significant strikes and Tibau edged out rounds one and three by a mere two strikes.

In takedowns, Nurmagomedov was officially 0-13. In contrast, Tibau was credited with one takedown in the third round. Further, Tibau also claimed head and body strike battles.

What Gleison Tibau thinks about the decision at UFC 148

Gleison Tibau’s reflections on his fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov a decade later reveal his enduring belief that he should have emerged victorious. In a 2022 interview with MMA Mania, Tibau acknowledged the widespread recognition of the bout’s toughness and closeness. Moreover, he pointed out that many fans still remind him how he should have won the fight.

“People are always like, ‘Man! You win this fight, you win this fight.’ Okay, thank you, thank you. Everybody tells [me about] this fight because it was a very tough fight, a very close fight,” he said. Further, he discussed how he was ahead of his opponent in terms of strikes and takedowns.

“I think I [hit] more punches, more takedowns, I don’t know what happened, I think I win this fight, too,” he said. Also, the MMA veteran revealed how even ‘The Eagle’ was surprised at the decision. “It was a big surprise for me, a big surprise for Khabib, too,” he said.

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The controversy surrounding this bout remains palpable to this day. Some fans still argue that Khabib Nurmagomedov may not have deserved the unanimous decision victory. What are your opinions on this? Let us know in the comments.