Rustam Khabilov took the toughest test of his career at UFC Fight Night 42, and his parents aren't going to be happy when they see the report card from the event.
Facing Benson Henderson in the night's main event, Khabilov put up a valiant effort for three rounds before succumbing to the former UFC lightweight champion's power and tapping out to a rear-naked choke in Round 4.
The fight marked Khabilov's first taste of the championship rounds, and the Dagestani mixed martial artist metaphorically spit up on his plate, collapsing under Henderson's pressure once he was forced to go beyond 15 minutes of action.
Still, the Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA product looked decent throughout the fight and had his moments of success, taking Henderson down a few times and blasting him with some nice elbows on the feet.
At 17-2 overall and 3-1 in the UFC, Khabilov still sits in a good place within the promotion's lightweight division, and he should receive a name opponent in his next trip to the UFC Octagon.
Let's take a look at three lightweights who make sense for him moving forward.
