Nurmagomedov takes UFC 155-pound crown in win over Iaquinta

Karolina Kowalkiewicz, right, elbows Felice Herrig during the third round of a women’s strawweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 223, Saturday, April 7, 2018, in New York. Kowalkiewicz won the fight. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

  NEW YORK, April 8 (AP) — Khabib Nurmagomedov battered and bloodied Al Iaquinta and won the UFC 155-pound championship by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC 223 on Saturday night.   Nurmagomedov improved to 26-0 and in a path to the lightweight championship much more laborious than his time in the ring at Barclays Center. He won 50-43 on two scorecards and 50-44 on the third.   Nurmagomedov had four fights against Tony Ferguson fall through — the latest led to Max Holloway getting the call on six days’ notice. Holloway was ruled medically unfit to compete on Friday, which forced UFC to bump Iaquinta from an undercard bout to the main event. [caption id="attachment_352448" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Ashlee Evans-Smith, left, punches Bec Rawlings, right, of Australia, during the second round women’s flyweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 223, Saturday, April 7, 2018, in New York. Evans-Smith won the fight. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_352449" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Chris Gruetzemacher, left, grapples with Joe Lauzon during the second round of a lightweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 223, Saturday, April 7, 2018, in New York. Gruetzemacher stopped Lauzon after the second round. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_352450" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Karolina Kowalkiewicz, of Poland, waits to be announced before a women’s strawweight mixed martial arts bout against Felice Herrig at UFC 223, Saturday, April 7, 2018, in New York. Kowalkiewicz won the fight. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_352451" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Rose Namajunas, left, punches Poland’s Joanna Jedrzejczyk during the fifth round of a women’s strawweight title bout at UFC 223 early Sunday, April 8, 2018, in New York. Namajunas won the bout. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_352452" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Rose Namajunas deflects a punch by Poland’s Joanna Jedrzejczyk, right, during the fourth round of a women’s strawweight title bout at UFC 223, early Sunday, April 8, 2018, in New York. Namajunas won the fight. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_352453" align="aligncenter" width="680"] Devin Clark, left, attempts to kick Mike Rodriguez, right, during the first round of a lightweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 223, Saturday, April 7, 2018, in New York. Clark won the fight. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)[/caption] Nurmagomedov, a Russian, won the belt that had been stripped this week from Conor McGregor because the tempestuous Irishman — who ignited a loading dock melee that puts his career in doubt — had not fought for UFC in 17 months.   The 29-year-old Nurmagomedov wrestled a bear as a child. He had no trouble busting open a clearly overmatched Iaquinta and used takedowns in the first, second and fifth rounds that led to repeated blows to the back of the head that cleared the way to his first UFC title.   Nurmagomedov was the clear fan favorite — fans dotted the arena wearing papakhas, a hat that that looks like a powdered wig native to his homeland in Dagestan — and chanted “Khabib! Khabib! Khabib!”   Nurmagomedov had a papakha on his head as the title belt was wrapped around his waist   Rose Namajunas made it 2 for 2 against Joanna Jedrzejczyk and defended her 115-pound championship with a unanimous decision victory in the co-main event of the card.