>> Narrator: On December 30th, in Las Vegas,
the UFC will end 2017 with a massive card.
Topped by two of the sport's most dominant athletes.
>> Bruce Buffer: Undisputed UFC--
>> Narrator: UFC women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg--
[grunting]
>> Narrator: Has been undefeated for the last 12 years.
>> Joe Rogan: The most feared woman in mixed martial arts.
>> Narrator: And 16 knockouts have created an expectation for violence.
>> Jon Anik: The greatest female mixed martial artist--
>> Cyborg:
>> Anik: --continues to add to her legacy.
>> Joe: This guy is on another level.
>> Coach: And one, let's go!
>> Narrator: And for world class grappler Khabib Nurmagomedov--
>> Joe: I just wanna see who's got the style to handle this guy.
>> Narrator: His unblemished 24-0 record proves
why the man they call "The Eagle"
offers the same forecast for victory.
>> When eagle's hungry, it's very dangerous.
>> Joe: He's a world champion Sambo fighter
who wants to be a world champion mixed martial arts fighter.
>> Coach: Here we go, play time.
>> Joe: He has been able to dominate
every single opponent that he has fought.
>> Narrator: But UFC 219 presents battle-tested challengers.
>> Joe: Oh! She's hurt!
She's hurt!
Oh, my God.
>> Narrator: Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm.
>> Dan Hardy: The Ronda Rousey head kick comes back! Wow!
>> Narrator: And top 5 lightweight Edson Barboza.
>> Joe: Oh!
>> Anik: Edson Barboza has done it again.
>> Narrator: Both primed to end the legendary win streaks of the favorites.
>> Holm: Cyborg is very powerful and she imposes her will on people.
I plan to put a stop to it.
>> Anik: Another highlight for the reel!
>> Barboza: You know, if you fight with me, gonna feel pain.
I'm gonna hurt you. That's it.
>> Narrator: The stakes are at an all time high...
>> Nice.
>> Narrator: As Barboza seeks his first title shot with the promotion.
>> Narrator: And Holm aims to become the first female
to capture world titles in two UFC weight divisions.
[grunting]
>> Go. 20 seconds.
>> Narrator: But before oncoming challengers ready
to take down the all time greats,
enter their lives and training camps
to see how they prepare for fight night.
This is UFC 219: Countdown.
The high desert of Albuquerque gave rise
to a culture of fighting many years ago, and the late 90's
saw one daughter of a New Mexico preacher,
begin to develop that inevitable enthusiasm for combat.
>> Coach: Alright, next combo.
Jack side kicks on back!
Side kick, come back!
Jab side, come back! Go!
>> Holm: In high school, I wanted to wrestle
and my parents didn't allow me to wrestle.
So, in between soccer seasons,
I started going to cardio kickboxing class.
I just started doing that to keep in shape,
and then I would watch the sparring classes,
and think, "Oh, I wanna try that."
I started sparring at 17,
and I had my first amateur fight at 18.
And my first pro fight at 20.
>> Announcer: From Albuquerque, New Mexico, here is Holly Holm!
>> Narrator: Holly Holm's fighting career began in boxing...
>> Commentator: Oh, nice left.
>> Narrator: Where her natural talent shined through.
>> Announcer: The IBA champion of the world: Holly Holm!
>> Narrator: Eventually, the same curiosity for the sweet science
would pique Holm's interest in martial arts,
when her boxing coach Mike Winkeljohn joined forces
with MMA coach Greg Jackson.
>> Holm: You know, I did a lot of my biggest boxing fights
training out of a cage.
Then there'd be times when a teammate would be, you know,
"Hey, it's just me going up against tall kickboxer,
so can you just get in there and try take me down?"
"Okay, I don't know what I'm doing, but."
It'd be really fun, and I thought, you know,
"I think I'm gonna try MMA fighting.
I just wanna try it and see what it's like."
>> Narrator: In 2011, Holm debuted in MMA...
>> Commentator: People are constantly asking Dana White
about Holly Holm.
>> Narrator: And began to rack up wins in the cage...
>> Commentator: She is an absolute machine,
and she may be on her way to the octagon.
>> Narrator: While simultaneously winning title fights in the ring.
>> Announcer: And still the IBA and WBA world champion!
>> Narrator: By 2015, she was fully committed to MMA...
>> Let's do it.
>> Narrator: And signed with the UFC.
>> Joe: See the movement of Holm is excellent.
>> Anik: Very fluid performance for Holly Holm tonight.
>> Narrator: The unbeaten Holm would quickly earn a title shot
against another crossover.
>> Joe: When you watch Ronda Rousey fight,
it seems like some sort of historical event
that you have the privilege of watching live.
>> Ref: Ready. Fight!
>> Narrator: An olympic judoka whose abilities
seemed to greatly outmatch Holm's skillset.
>> Joe: Holly is starting to show her skills.
Wow.
This is incredible.
Again with that left hand.
Beautiful! She's hurt! She's hurt!
Oh!
>> Mike Goldberg: Holly looking to finish!
Holly Holm is the new UFC
bantamweight champion of the world!
>> Narrator: Holly Holm had reached the pinnacle of MMA,
just like she had in boxing, and became the first woman
to hold world titles in both combat sports.
But she would soon realize the difficulties
of staying on top in the UFC.
>> And new!
>> Narrator: The belt slipped away from her grasp...
and though she struggled to regain championship form...
>> Joe: Caught her with a left!
>> Mike: Holly pushes forward aggressively.
>> Narrator: She did not lose her champion's mindset.
>> Holm: Having a loss doesn't take away the passion in me
that I wanna fight and win.
It didn't make me feel like I didn't wanna keep going forward.
I definitely wanna keep going forward.
I wanna keep doing well.
I was like, "That's enough, Holly.
Let's turn this around."
>> John Gooden: The former bantamweight champion, Holly Holm,
is here to prove that she belongs at the top.
>> Narrator: Holm would headline the UFC's return to Singapore
in June of this year,
and aim to revitalize the striking offense
that earned her the sport's greatest prize.
>> Gooden: Absolute laser-focused, Dan, from Holly Holm.
A lot on the line here.
>> Hardy: Oh!
Oh! Head kick!
Bethe Correia's down!
Ronda Rousey head kick comes back!
Wow!
>> Gooden: Holm is back!
Head kick knockout!
The Preacher's Daughter.
>> Hardy: Stopped her dead in her tracks!
That, ladies and gentlemen, is perfect technical execution.
>> Holly Holm!
[radio chatter]
>> Coach: Alright, ready, go.
>> Narrator: Before Holly Holm compiled a career of title fights
and highlight reel knockouts,
there was one Brazilian who came of age
in the early years of women's MMA,
when championship dreams were as uncertain
as the mere opportunity to fight professionally.
>> There you go. Five.
Down.
Six.
>> Cyborg:
>> Ten, drop it. Good job.
Alright, let's reset. 500.
>> Narrator: Cris "Cyborg" Justino has long been recognized
as the undisputed number one featherweight female fighter.
>> Commentator: Cris Cyborg feels that she will be the woman
to put an end to the Gina Carano phenomenon.
>> Narrator: Since she first entered the spotlight
more than eight years ago.
>> Commentator: The energy in this crowd is unbelievable.
Cyborg on top of Carano.
Carano getting pounded!
She better watch out!
Cyborg has done it!
The Strikeforce women's world champion: Cris Cyborg!
>> Narrator: The inaugural women's Strikeforce champion
took on all challengers, and knocked out every one of them.
>> Commentator: Another right hand. Wow.
Right hook!
Oh, they better watch it! Carano is done!
>> Commentator: Mama-mia, Cyborg!
It's over!
>> Announcer: Cyborg!
>> Narrator: Cyborg then captured
Invicta's inaugural featherweight title.
>> Commentator: Now Cyborg unloading on Coenen.
Staggered her with that right cross.
>> Invicta FC featherweight champion of the world!
>> Narrator: And though her subsequent title defenses looked easy...
>> Commentator: She defends her Invicta featherweight championship.
>> Commentator: That looked terrifying.
>> Narrator: Training camps were demanding.
>> Coach: Two. One. Switch.
12 A-squats.
Squat and jump. One.
Everyone sees the tip of the iceberg.
They don't get to see what is behind all of that.
Three. Two. One. Alright, eight.
And that's her hard work.
She's in the gym every single day,
multiple times during the day, to be where she is now.
>> Narrator: As Cyborg's star continued to rise...
>> Commentator: It's done!
Steve Mazzagatti has seen enough!
>> Narrator: So did the demand for her to compete in the UFC.
>> Cyborg!
>> Narrator: And her long-awaited debut came
in Curitiba, Brazil, in May of 2016.
>> Mike: Welcome to the octagon, Cris Cyborg!
>> Brian Stann: She's taking it to Leslie Smith right now!
Leslie's hurt!
>> Mike: Cris Cyborg by knockout!
>> Narrator: She competed again four months later,
and earned career knockout number 15.
>> Stop! Stop! Stop!
>> Anik: And still unstoppable.
>> Joe: This is a division that was created for this woman,
the most violent woman in all of MMA.
A destroyer.
>> Narrator: And in July of this year, Cyborg,
along with Invicta's bantamweight champion
Tonya Evinger,
took center stage for the undisputed
UFC featherweight world title.
>> Joe: And if you've never seen Cyborg fight,
prepare yourself for violence.
>> You ready to fight? You ready to fight?
Okay, let's go!
>> Joe: Fantastic striking ability.
Unbelievable aggression, and easily the most feared woman
in the history of mixed martial arts.
[horn blowing]
>> Awesome. Awesome.
Just keep circling.
Use your speed, alright.
And go to body when you got to.
She's in trouble.
>> Joe: And Cyborg isn't loading up.
She's throwing technical strikes.
>> Anik: She always is learning and improving
despite her status as one of, if not the greatest of all time.
Oh.
Could this be the beginning of the end in round three?
And this could do it!
Cris Cyborg finally can add UFC champion to the ledger.
>> Buffer: And now the new undisputed UFC--
>> Narrator: Although she has already accomplished so much...
>> Awesome job, Cris.
>> Narrator: Winning multiple world titles
and going unbeaten in her last 19 fights...
>> Coach: Go. 30 seconds.
>> Narrator: Cyborg feels that this is just the beginning.
[grunting] >> Coach: Come on.
Push! Push!
>> Narrator: The reign of her 3rd championship belt
begins on December 30th at UFC 219...
>> Joe: She just fought the perfect fight.
>> Narrator: Against none other than former champion Holly Holm.
>> Coach: Three. Two.
One. Rest. Nice job.
>> Buffer: The new featherweight champion: Cris Cyborg!
>> Narrator: After capturing the UFC featherweight title in July,
Cris Cyborg would eventually be booked to defend her belt
for the first time against
former bantamweight champion Holly Holm at UFC 219.
But well before the fight contracts were drafted,
Cyborg had a good sense that Holm would be
the first contender to sign on the dotted line.
>> Cyborg:
[grunting]
>> Narrator: Now back in her adopted Southern California home,
Cyborg continues to sharpen her full range of MMA skills,
with the region's wide variety of talented coaches...
>> Coach: Um, wrap the sleeves.
We're going armbars. Side to side.
One minute, each person. Okay, you ready?
Go for it.
>> Narrator: Such as decorated jiu-jitsu champion
Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles.
>> Narrator: He trains some of the best ground fighters in the world,
including former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum.
>> Joe: Guillotine! Guillotine! Unbelievable!
>> Narrator: And his students' performances are a testament
to his grassroots methods.
>> Alright, time is running. Have fun!
[bell ringing]
>> Charles: Most of the fighters I help, I want to just train no-gi.
I mean, it helps, but you have to understand jiu-jitsu.
You have to understand what to do and then trust me,
no-gi is easier.
>> Narrator: Joining the team for this camp, is Cyborg's friend
and multiple time gold medalist Gabi Garcia.
>> Charles: Gabi, she's one of the best female
Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and having her to help her.
It's perfect combination.
>> Cyborg:
>> Narrator: When Cyborg and Garcia are not rolling on the mats
at Cobrinha's in Los Angeles, they can be found
at the RVCA training center in Costa Mesa,
where sparring is commonplace,
under the guidance of Jason Parillo,
who has coached multiple UFC world champions,
including BJ Penn...
>> Mike: Michael Bisping is the new--
>> Narrator: And Michael Bisping.
>> Parillo: What we do is sometimes with Cris,
we gotta sometimes make her feel
how she makes other people feel.
So.
>> She's bulletproof.
>> Parillo: Nice. Nice, Cris.
Circle out when you're going back, Cris.
Especially with Gabi.
Let her come to you sometimes and play with her feet.
Cris is a lot of times, you know,
the bigger, stronger opponent in there.
Good speed.
Don't worry about loading everything up.
Speed, baby.
There's an intensity.
There's a different emotion when you're in there
with a woman who's actually stronger than you,
and that's something that she doesn't very often feel.
Try circle out to the right a little, Cris. Nice.
Nice hook.
I like that hook on that side.
>> Garcia: She's so strong and she's so fast.
It's crazy, you know.
For me, it's a pleasure training with one legend.
>> She's really coming far away with control.
She's seeing so much and I don't know how
anybody's gonna stand in front of her right now.
Nice. Get that head in the side.
Nice hand position.
>> She's the best, man.
Inside the cage and outside.
>> Parillo: Time. Good job, ladies.
[dramatic music]
>> Narrator: While Cyborg balances camaraderie with training...
>> Thank you.
Oh, those fries look delish.
>> Narrator: Her UFC 219 opponent Holly Holm also enjoys support
from her closest friends.
>> We definitely try to go whenever we can every fight.
>> Narrator: And it's been that way since the beginning.
>> Holm: She was even at my first amateur fight
on 4th Street Gym here.
>> Yeah, literally, I think there were, like,
folding chairs and there was, like, eight people out there.
It was fun when it was here.
Her very first UFC fight - that one was awesome
because it was at Staples Center.
I thought when her fights at the casino here were huge.
But when we got there it was just crazy.
But Australia, I think we all kind of had that feeling
we just knew she was gonna win.
Not because she's our friend.
We were like, "Doesn't it just feel right?
Like, it just feels like this is it.
Like, it's gonna happen."
>> Mike: Seventh title defense for Ronda Rousey.
>> Narrator: Holm's first fight overseas two years ago,
saw her knockout an icon,
then-unbeaten champion Ronda Rousey.
The upset reverberated across the world,
and made waves back in her hometown
of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
>> More mail, bruh. More mail.
>> [bleep] the usual stack.
>> Most of it's Holly.
Always Holly.
>> More Holly.
More Holly.
>> This gym was always on the map.
It's one of the most legitimate gyms in the business,
but, obviously, when Holly beat Ronda, this gym exploded.
>> When we do good, the city rallies behind our fighters
that do well.
The city of Albuquerque has adopted
Jackson-Winkeljohn as our pro team.
We do get more energy when a fight is announced with Holly
than any other fighter.
It's pretty cool.
>> Narrator: While Holm brought international acclaim
to the Jackson Wink Academy,
it's the coaches represented by the gym's moniker,
and their deep staff of expert instructors,
who mold fighters into champions.
>> We got the best coaches, Greg and Wink,
they've been working since 1991 when MMA was first starting.
The combination of the coaches makes the gym
one of the best gyms in the world.
[rock music]
>> Narrator: Whether Holm drills with the team leaders,
or Jiu-Jitsu coaches Tussa and Barata...
>> Narrator: Everyone recognizes that Holm's title shot
against Cyborg on December 30th
could cement her place in the history books.
>> Holm: I always say I wanna do something
that's never been done.
One of the main things I wanted to do is become
a champion in both boxing and MMA.
Nobody had done that before and I was able to do it so,
I had multiple titles in boxing and I want to do it in MMA.
>> Like, push, and then I lift one and take one out.
So, just take one out and keep the other one.
>> She beat Ronda Rousey, and if she can beat Cyborg,
in my opinion, it'll be the pinnacle of her career.
And you're gonna see a legendary fight.
Holly and Cyborg are two of the best
female fighters of all time,
and watching those two collide, who can say no to that?
>> You just mastered this one. Good job.
>> Narrator: UFC women's featherweight champion
Cris Cyborg is back in Southern California for training camp.
She arrived here 8 years ago,
after leaving her native Brazil, in search of a place where MMA
was more widely recognized as a profession.
>> Cyborg:
>> Narrator: As she prepares to take on former boxing
and MMA champion Holly Holm at UFC 219,
Cyborg has invited a unique sparring partner
from a distant nation.
>> I'm from Capetown, South Africa.
I've been fighting professional Muay Thai
since I was 16 years old.
[grunting]
Six years ago, I made the transition to MMA.
And I'm EFC world lightweight champion.
>> Commentator: Big kick to the body, and he's finished.
>> Commentator: Landing big shots!
That's it! >> Commentator: Stoppage!
>> Announcer: And new lightweight champion of the world: Don Madge!
>> Holly likes to run a little bit.
She knows how to move and she knows how to turn in.
She knows how to set you up.
So, you know, we're obviously working on smothering,
and taking the fight away from her.
>> Parillo: Do a lot of that.
Don Madge, with all his experience,
can emulate Holly to a T.
[grunting]
He's a blessing for this camp.
He's got real nice movement.
He knows how to set you up.
He knows the whole game,
so he's gonna help Cris get real sharp.
[dramatic music]
Turn him. Yeah, turn him on that fence.
Nice.
>> Madge: I don't think Holly's fought anyone like Cris.
I don't think a lot of guys have fought anyone like Cris.
[grunting]
Once Holly feels Cris' power, she's gonna be shook.
>> Parillo: Stand it up, Cris.
>> That's where Cris is gonna expose Holly's chin.
>> Parillo: Time.
Good job.
>> One of the best fights in the history of women's MMA.
Two of the biggest names in the sport.
It's Cris Cyborg defending her UFC featherweight title
against the one and only Holly Holm.
Holly is kind enough to be joining us right now.
In your mind, what's the key to defeating Cris Cyborg?
>> Holm: There's holes in everybody's game
and we're putting together a good game plan
that I feel confident about.
I just need to stick together with my team,
and keep a real sharp focus on this fight.
This is a big fight, the biggest fight of my career.
I'm ready for it.
[rock music]
>> Narrator: Though anything can happen, strategy is imperative.
>> Alright, let's keep going here.
[grunting]
>> Narrator: Holm's striking coach Mike Winkeljohn is notorious
for devising methods to defeat
seemingly unconquerable opponents.
>> There you go.
Good.
>> Narrator: And he relishes this opportunity to break down
the relentless onslaught of the featherweight champ.
>> Winkeljohn: It's kinda fun game timing for Cris Cyborg.
We know what Cris does. She does it every time.
She comes hard. She comes fast.
She throws with power.
And, you know, the thing with Holly is she's a giant killer.
>> Joe: What a performance by Holly Holm.
>> Winkeljohn: You know, I think she has to finish Cyborg
because that's how she does things.
When she's on, she's on.
She's a giant-killer, and the giant's gotta fall down.
[Grunting]
Yeah, get your breath.
>> Narrator: But Cyborg and her coach Jason Parillo
won't travel to Las Vegas on December 30th unprepared.
>> Parillo: When you're walking people down now is a whole different animal.
You see where you're going.
You're not just going in there blind rage.
You know exactly what you're doing.
>> Narrator: They too will bring methods specifically catered
to Holm's fighting style,
and they feel confident in what to expect
from the former bantamweight champion.
>> Four.
[Grunting]
>> Stann: Jason Parillo has worked a lot on her
to increase her vision, her set up.
>> Parillo: I think she's gonna try and tie her up.
Push her against the cage, do all that [bleep].
At the end of the day, there's nothing that she can do
to dominate Cris in this fight.
>> Stann: She is a true well-rounded mixed martial artist.
>> Cris is the most dominating champion out there.
>> Stann: She destroys everybody she fights.
>> You're seeing everything here.
[Grunting]
Good eyes in there, Cris.
>> Hardy: Holly Holm is one of the most talented
and professional athletes that we have in this sport.
>> Winkeljohn: Cris has not fought people like Holly before.
She hasn't fought that high-level opponent
that Holly has.
We're gonna find out what Cris really has this time
when she has to fight somebody
that has that kind of skill that can match her skill.
>> Gooden: She wants to prove that she belongs
back contesting for the title.
>> Parillo: Cris has been watching girls like Holly and Ronda Rousey,
and these other girls get this type of attention.
>> Anik: Arguably the greatest female mixed martial artist
continues to add to her legacy.
>> Beautiful work there.
Everybody thinks that these girls
are just dominating champions.
We're gonna find out the truth and we'll find out
the most dominating woman out there is Cris Cyborg.
[Grunting]
>> Narrator: UFC 219's co-main event will feature the return
of unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov, who began spending
his fight camps in California six years ago,
when high-level training did not exist
in his native Dagestan.
While his stateside collaboration
with the American Kickboxing Academy
has continued his progression in MMA,
Nurmagomedov's fighting style is a tribute
to the combat sambo skills instilled in him
since childhood.
>> And one, let's go!
>> Joe: The world champion sambo fighter who wants to be
a world champion mixed martial arts fighter,
and he's got that world champion technique.
>> My best background is like smash opponents.
>> Joe: Nurmagomedov is very impressive.
He just keeps firing.
He's a wild dude.
>> Nurmagomedov: I all the time go for win.
I all the time try take down somebody.
>> Joe: And here's the big slam.
>> Nurmagomedov: Make him give up.
>> Joe: And he is a beast.
>> This is my style, you know.
This is what I do all my life.
>> Narrator: At 29 years of age,
Nurmagomedov boasts an astounding
24-0 professional record.
>> Joe: Nurmagomedov just mauling Abel Trujillo.
>> Narrator: He has more takedowns in a single bout
than any other fighter in UFC history.
>> Joe: Over and over again ragdolling him here.
>> Narrator: Nurmagomedov is yet to lose a single round in the Octagon.
>> Joe: He has been able to dominate
every single opponent that he has fought.
>> Narrator: And the unstoppable contender is on track
for a UFC title shot.
>> Joe: Man, what a display of dominance by Khabib Nurmagomedov.
I wanna become the UFC lightweight champ,
and I wanna retire undisputed
and undefeated lightweight champion.
This is my dream.
>> Joe: Michael should tap or he's gonna break his arm.
He's gonna break his arm.
>> Mike: It is all over!
>> It's why I'm this sport.
>> Joe: And after a performance like this,
how can you deny this man?
>> Narrator: Although Nurmagomedov's relocation to California
was prompted by a lack of resources back home in Dagestan,
his burgeoning success in the UFC
has since started a revolution across all of Russia,
represented by his growing fight team: Eagles MMA.
>> We have three champions, we have four more UFC fighters,
couple more brothers and my cousins Nurmagomedovs.
They have very big motivation
and I think I'm going to help these guys coming to US
and signing to the UFC, not for competition,
we want to win belts.
>> Narrator: While fight camp resumes in San Jose, California,
Nurmagomedov continues to receive guidance
from his father Abdulmanap.
The MMA pioneer in Dagestan remains overseas,
but closely monitors his son's progress each day.
[speaking Arabic]
>> Khabib: For me, it's very hard he's not here,
but all the time I talk with him about my diet,
about my weight, about my feelings, like everything.
[speaking Arabic]
Last seven years I fight without him.
I fight without him, but when I go to the cage,
he's my heart, he's my heart all the time.
>> Narrator: Nurmagomedov and his father have been working
towards a UFC title shot for a lifetime,
and a win on December 30th could grant them
that long awaited opportunity.
Whether a title shot means facing
lightweight champ Conor McGregor,
or interim title holder Tony Ferguson,
the belt is within reach for both Nurmagomedov,
and his UFC 219 adversary.
[ducks quacking]
>> Narrator: But for Brazilian kickboxer Edson Barboza,
he did not always envision that this would be his journey.
>> Barboza: In the beginning of my career,
my dream is not to fight MMA,
my dream was to fight kickboxing,
but nothing was working for that side, for Muay Thai side.
>> Trainer: Go one round for as fast as you can.
30 second break.
Alright, and then five times for this.
>> Barboza: I definitely didn't see this.
I'm a MMA fighter,
but if I work hard if I give my best, I can be UFC champ.
That's my goal right now.
>> Narrator: Less than two years after strapping on
the four ounce gloves, Barboza entered the UFC...
>> Joe: Barboza known for his explosive
and dynamic power in his strikes.
>> Referee: You ready? You ready? Let's do it!
>> Narrator: ... where he put his most lethal weapons to work.
>> Joe: Very exciting newcomer.
>> Mike: Oh, my goodness!
Wow!
>> Kenny Florian: The great example of the new generation of fighters
coming into the UFC.
>> He's just a straight up athlete,
you can see that in the striking game.
>> Florian: Everything he throws is just picture perfect.
>> Trainer: He's just so explosive and so fast.
You make a mistake for a split second and he'll make you pay.
>> Joe: Oh!
This is historic!
This is the very first spinning heel kick KO
in the history of the UFC.
>> Edson is always just a highlight reel.
>> Joe: The only guy we've ever seen to stop two fights by leg kick.
He's one of the more dynamic kickboxers in the UFC.
>> These spinning kicks, you know,
whatever you can possibly think of, he's done it.
>> Joe: No one kicks like this guy.
He's a monster, man.
That kid is a monster.
Very, very impressive.
>> Not many guys have a knockout with a low kick, body kick.
>> Anik: Oh, another highlight for Edson Barboza.
Wow!
>> Barboza: Head kick.
I knockout with all in the UFC.
>> Joe: The quickness and the technique is unparalleled.
>> Narrator: 12 UFC wins led Barboza to his last fight,
which took place back home in Brazil,
and he added one more highlight to his reel.
>> Anik: Edson Barboza as intimidating a striker
to prepare for as there is in this lightweight division.
>> Anik: Oh!
Edson Barboza does it again!
One of the best highlight reels in the sport.
[Barboza speaking Portuguese]
>> Narrator: To claim his right to a title shot,
Barboza must hand Khabib Nurmagomedov
his first career loss...
>> Mike: Moves to 24-0.
>> Narrator: ...when they face off on December 30th in Las Vegas.
>> Barboza: I look at him as just one more opponent.
If I go there and give my best, I want to win this fight.
>> Narrator: When UFC 219's Edson Barboza relocated
to the United States from Brazil, eight years ago,
the difficult transition was made possible by his wife Bruna,
who's long been the cornerstone
of her husband's fighting career.
>> This photo was when he proposed to me in Brazil.
This one I think we were 17 years old.
I gave him this shirt, I think he has this shirt still today.
It was my first present to him.
>> Barboza: My wife, she gives me all support.
It makes me stay focused on training
and get better and better.
[speaking Portuguese]
>> Barboza: But I still talk to my mom and my dad every single day.
[speaking Portuguese]
>> Barboza: I really miss my parents, my friends in Brazil.
Thank God for my training partners,
I really love those guys.
>> They are our family over here.
They are our family.
>> Narrator: Barboza's tight knit team in New Jersey,
which includes former UFC lightweight champions
Frankie Edgar, and Eddie Alvarez, was
developed in part by jiu-jitsu coach Ricardo Almeida...
>> Joe: Whoa, that is some top shelf Brazilian jiu-jitsu right there.
>> Narrator: ...whose experience competing in the Octagon,
helped him bring a core group of lesser known fighters
into the spotlight.
>> Almeida: Bring it in, guys.
When hidden in the woods of New Jersey
and not too many people know that we are even here.
I want to keep my head tight.
I'm going to start sitting.
We are just dedicated to each other.
We are dedicated to achieving individual goals together.
I'm just very excited where we are now,
everyone fighting for huge fights
and it's no different with Edson.
Stay on the head and block--
watch how my hip never touches the mat.
>> Narrator: As the team's top striker prepares to face
the aggressive and undefeated
sambo specialist Khabib Nurmagomedov...
>> Joe: Just a masterpiece performance of grappling.
>> Narrator: ...they draw confidence
from Barboza's extraordinary talent.
>> There is no better matchup for Edson to get in there
and have the opportunity to fight a guy like Khabib.
It's exciting to show the fans
that he can do a lot more than just strike.
>> Narrator: Despite the team's confidence in their fighter,
they know Nurmagomedov is unbeaten for a reason,
and presents some unique challenges.
>> You'll have to be very sharp in being able
to stop his ground and pound,
or he's just going to wear you out.
So a lot of the work we do is get Edson ready
to deal with that barrage.
Everyone is excited and it's going to be fireworks
before the big first, for sure.
>> Narrator: Barboza's UFC 219 opponent is one
that has become recognized globally
through an exhilarating MMA campaign,
although the widespread acclaim
that Khabib Nurmagomedov has garnered,
is unlike anything he ever expected.
And as Russian MMA shares in the rising popularity,
the region's media outlets have expanded
their coverage of the sport.
>> MMA is one of the biggest sports in the world now
and in Russia it has become big, because big promotion on TV.
When on the internet for this sport, it's not bad.
But when TV is coming, this sport has become very big.
>> Narrator: Back in the United States,
where Nurmagomedov spends each training camp,
mainstream sports have long held
a massive television presence.
Luckily for Nurmagomedov, his stateside media obligations
are guided by teammate and UFC light heavyweight champion
Daniel Cormier, who also happens to be
one of the sport's biggest TV personalities.
>> No.
>> Khabib: What? >> What do you want?
>> No, just one.
>> One question? >> No.
>> I'll give you one question.
>> When I interviewed with Russia, I feel more comfortable.
Here, maybe my language people don't understand.
>> You're fighting Edson Barboza at UFC 219.
>> Question. >> That's the question.
>> This is not question.
>> Cormier: You know the first time he was here,
he was so nervous-- his first English interview,
but he's getting much better.
You're fighting Edson Barboza, UFC 219,
how does he stack up to the rest of your opponents?
Is he going to be the toughest guy?
>> You know, Edson is very good on his feet,
but he has to worry about a lot of things;
my boxing, my pressure, my conditioning,
my wrestling, my top control.
I have to stop only his kicks.
>> Khabib brings an intensity with him
that's welcomed in the gym.
Not only that,
but he brings good training partners
and it's always nice to see the work ethic.
>> Narrator: In an effort to lead by example,
Khabib has brought his cousin, Omar Nurmagomedov,
to camp for UFC 219.
And inside the walls of San Jose's
American Kickboxing Academy,
the undefeated bantamweight can get a firsthand look
at the highest level of professional training.
>> AKA is one of the biggest and strongest teams in the world.
He have to feel this.
He have to feel how you work with UFC fighters.
These training systems are very good for me.
I keep improving myself and you know, I keep winning.
>> Narrator: While it's hard to improve on a perfect career,
the team feels more prepared than ever before,
heading in against Edson Barboza on December 30th.
>> This time around, he came in a better striker,
a better grappler, better conditioned.
He's a dedicated athlete who devotes his time to his craft.
Come December 30th, everybody is going to know
the new and improved Khabib-- you'll see.
>> Narrator: UFC 219's co-main event,
will feature a clash of styles that harkens back
to the sport's earliest matchmaking.
>> Stann: Potentially the best kickboxer on the UFC roster.
>> Joe: One of the best grapplers in all of MMA.
>> Narrator: Khabib Nurmagomedov's unrelenting
grappling ability has seen him finish fights...
>> Mike: It is all over!
>> Narrator: ... and break records.
>> Mike: A UFC record, 21 takedowns.
>> Narrator: But his opponent Edson Barboza
is equally skilled in the striking realm...
>> Anik: Another highlight for the reel!
>> Narrator: ...and his preparation with former MMA
champion Nick Catone,
will have him ready for the challenge that lies ahead.
>> You got the classic striker versus grappler
and it's going to come down to
who can get to their game first?
We know Khabib wants to get it to the ground,
he's not going to want to stand
at the center of the cage with Edson.
>> Narrator: Though he has the clear advantage on the feet,
Barboza says he will be comfortable
wherever the fight goes.
>> Barboza: Fighting's feeling, you know?
Sometimes in the ground I feel good.
Probably try to submit.
If it don't feel good, I'll try standup.
I'm not scared if he takes me down.
Wherever this fight goes, I'm ready.
>> Narrator: Nurmagomedov has faced talented specialists before,
but no matter what tools his opposition
brings to the Octagon,
the top 5 lightweight enters with the same relentless pace
he used to break every man he has ever competed against.
>> If you stop me one time, he has to stop me 100 times,
because I'm not going to stop.
>> Narrator: And for head coach Javier Mendez,
the true intrigue behind this matchup lies
in the full range of combat skills possessed by his student.
>> Mendez: Here we go, play time.
Alright, go.
Nice.
Very nice.
Most people look at this as the classic striker
versus wrestler type of matchup.
To some degree it is.
Nice, good to hold back.
But it would be more-so if Khabib was only coming in there
just to grapple.
Get in that boxing distance.
There you go, nice.
He's not-- he's coming in there to punch your lights out.
Can't be fooled, this is MMA-- everything goes.
>> Narrator: No matter the method of victory,
both teams are familiar with fights of this magnitude.
They know what can happen, and they know the stakes.
>>You have two guys who are both dynamic
and both want to finish you off,
so it makes for an amazing fight.
Hit it, hit it.
>> Always stepping in the Octagon is a big war
and I'm ready for this.
>> Mendez: Move that head, keep that distance close.
>> The winner of this fight which will be Khabib
will be fighting for the title and they should be.
Nice.
He is the best and he will prove it.
Time!
>> Narrator: The UFC's year-end event boasts a headliner
between legendary female featherweights,
as former bantamweight champion Holly Holm takes on
the electrifying 145 pound title holder Cris Cyborg...
>> Nice quick shoulders.
>> Narrator: ...who will exit the tunnels of T-Mobile Arena
on December 30th, with a reputation for fireworks.
>> Anik: Cris Cyborg!
>> When I walk in an arena with Cris,
I can feel her drawing that electricity.
She has that.
She has that and you know something is going to happen.
>> Joe: She is a destroyer!
>> Parillo: Something is going to happen,
it's going to be devastating.
It's going to be fun to watch.
>> Cyborg: After I go inside the cage,
it's me and her you know?
And I want the knockout.
>> Narrator: But Holly Holm is no stranger
to fighting seemingly invincible champions...
>> Joe: She's hurt! Oh!
>> Narrator: ... and she will be ready to block out the noise.
>> My mentality is to just embrace that moment.
>> Joe: What a performance by Holly Holm!
>> I'm focused and I know I belong there.
>> John Gooden: That's it!
>> Dan Hardy: The Ronda Rousey head kick comes back!
>> Holm: December 30th, I'm going to show up and perform
what I know I'm capable of and come out with a win.
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