Books Make Out Like Bandits With McGregor Loss

A historic fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor is in the books....for the books.

According to BetOnline oddsmakers Dave Mason, UFC 229 easily became the most wagered on Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event in his company's nearly 20 year existence.  Nothing even comes close.

He tweeted ahead of the big fight:

Khabib v McGregor fight will take on more action than any other MMA fight in the history of BetOnline (and Id guess every other book on Planet Earth). 

And the books didn't just enjoy the volume.  Most of the money was on McGregor, who ended up losing.

McGregor tapped out in the fourth round of his comeback fight at UFC 229 against Nurmagomedov.

A violent brawl broke out shortly afterwards.

Nurmagomedov stepped away from the prone McGregor and immediately pointed at the Irishman's corner, shouting and throwing his mouthpiece.

The men in McGregor's corner appeared to respond with taunts, and Nurmagomedov climbed over the fence and fought with Dillon Danis, a Bellator welterweight who trains with McGregor. Meanwhile, two men apparently from Nurmagomedov's entourage entered the cage and sucker-punched McGregor, who defended himself before security personnel separated everyone.

Mason's wet dream for the next big money making bout for his book?

He tweeted:

Me thinks Uncle Dana tickled pink about that ending... Khabib gets suspended (maybe stripped)... Ferguson v Conor for the interim belt... Conor maybe champ again... Dana happy

While BetOnline does not disclose its financials to the public, U.S.-based sportsbooks will.  It isn't immediately clear how they capitalized off of this event. 

FanDuel, which runs the Meadowlands Sportsbook just outside of Manhattan, appears to have been promoting the fight heavily. Vegas books certainly should have performed well, especially with UFC 229 having taken place there.

- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com