5 Best MMA Fighters of 2018

#2 Khabib Nurmagomedov (27-0)

Blame it on the adrenaline.

The Eagle truly soared as his nickname suggests in 2018. And we mean literally; did you see him jump off the cage right into the crowd after his UFC 229 win?

While his post-fight hysterics may have deflected the attention from his dominant performance, Nurmagomedov undoubtedly shut all his naysayers up in what was termed as the biggest fight in UFC history.

Despite mercilessly demolishing all of his opponents prior to the McGregor fight, the Russian always had to deal with the criticism of having built his record by beating 'tin cans'. I'm no fanboy of the 2-time Sambo World Champion but credit has to be given where it's due.

Khabib won the title against Al Iaquinta in April and then moved one onto one of the most hyped and personal rivalries in UFC history with the Notorious One. It was a classic striker vs. grappler bout but Khabib surprised everyone by showcasing an improved stand-up game against one of the best strikers in the UFC.

He may have won via submission but his improvements were a notable feature against the predictably rusty McGregor. Khabib got richer in all aspects of the game in 2018 -- whether it was the money, star power or his overall skill set.

He could face sanctions for the post-fight chaos at UFC 229 but 2019 promises to be another defining period in the career of the UFC Lightweight Champion. If he manages to beat Ferguson next year and remains unbeaten, he will inarguably cement himself as possibly the greatest Lightweight in UFC history.