Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor remains a UFC competition rivalry like no other. It’s something that offshoots into the hot Dagestan vs. Ireland UFC/MMA fighter debate for so long. Unlike the Dagestan vs. American wrestling or any other, this rivalry has been just something else. It appears both of the fighters will never settle their differences.
Khabib’s cousin Usman Nurmagomedov’s lightweight title defense comes vs. the Irish Paul Hughes at Bellator Champions Series: Road to Dubai. Ahead of the bout, ‘The Eagle’ sat down for some pre-fight media rounds. Safe to say, Khabib Nurmagomedov isn’t weighing in on the impact of Irish brawlers, compared to his nation.
Ireland don’t have fighters, brother, …Let’s be honest: How many fighters from Ireland? Paul Hughes and Conor. Who else? There is no fighters, brother. You come to Dagestan, you can understand. So many organizations, they don’t even want to sign Dagestan fighters because they worry about like, everybody can become champion…Ireland level, like not even half of Dagestan level.
Khabib Nurmagomedov to PFL MMA media sitdown for RoadtoDubai | Sat Jan 25 | Coca-Cola Arena | Dubai, UAE
UFC 229 PPV event broke all the records and still holds it even to this day. Former dual-division champ Conor McGregor and Khabib couldn’t avoid their rivalry to be what they are today. But the debate has since soured much. Apart from Hughes and ‘Mystic Mac’ (also Ian Machado Garry on an exclusive 8-1 run), there isn’t much talent as Khabib stated.
Hence, Nurmagomedov calls it foolish to tout the matchup between Usman and Hughes as the next big MMA rivalry. ‘The Eagle’ has cornered friends and family, and many more, in successful coaching stints. He also boasts that with his cousins Usman and Umar Nurmagomedov, his friends Islam Makhachev and Gadzhi Rabadanov make up for a sheer volume of top pound-for-pound fighters.
Daniel Cormier recalls Khabib Nurmagomedov’s umbrage on him being ‘chummy’ with Conor McGregor
Former UFC heavyweight/light heavyweight champ, StrikeForce HWY Grand Prix Champ, and Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier is Khabib’s close friend. Cormier has a special camaraderie with him and Team AKA (American Kickboxing Academy). But there was once one single prick in that friendship.
Khabib vs. Conor McGregor UFC rivalry had other collaterals (Source: X)It goes by the name of Conor McGregor. ‘DC’ has another certain kind of comradery with ‘The Notorious’ given both are part of exclusive champ’s champ club. McGregor and his effect on global mainstream MMA is also quite undeniable. But with their years long Irish vs. Dagestan MMA rivalry, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s close friend was in a tough spot.
GOAT Jon Jones and Cormier are yet to bury the hatchet. “Bones” has him in his ‘Top 5’ but Cormier doesn’t see them any more chummy-chum than that. Nurmagomedov lauds Jones’ run but said he can’t be friends due to the conflict (H/T Bloody Elbow). In the same vein of things, Cormier understands why he expects the same when it comes to McGregor.
I saw McGregor in Abu Dhabi…don’t know who he was fighting – We were shaking hands, and were very kind of chummy. And Khabib was like, ‘Brother, I don’t understand this.’ He said, ‘If I see Conor with his wife, I’ll shake his hand because that’s what you’re supposed to do, but brother …’ And I initially kind of fought it, but people close to me said, ‘He’s right. Look at the stance he’s taken in regards to everyone you deal with. Why in the world would you not take that same stance?’
Daniel Cormier via his Official YT Channel (@@DC_MMA)
Since then, DC said he has taken Nurmagomedov’s POV into consideration. Cormier does not request McGregor for media interviews. He has even regulated his attitude towards him. It only goes to show why and how some UFC/MMA rivalries can stand even the test of time.
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