When we talk about the biggest rivalries in UFC history, it is hard not to mention the heated rivalry between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
This fight took place in UFC 229 and yet the bad blood between the two has not gone anywhere.
In a recent interview with ESPN, after being asked about his next fight and the loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor went on a rant about the Dagestani champion.
McGregor dismissed the achievements of Khabib Nurmagomedov in MMA and even accused Nurmagomedov and his father of staging the early fights in Nurmagomdeov’s career. It must be mentioned that Khabib fought in various organizations such as PAC, TFC, M-1, GFP, ProFC before his UFC debut.
However, Nurmagomedov only faced elite fighters after his debut in UFC such as Michael Johnson, Rafael Dos Anjos, and so on. On the other hand, Conor McGregor became a double champion in Cage FC before his UFC debut.
Conor McGregor puts Khabib Nurmagomedov on blast
Talking about Khabib’s retirement, Conor stated: “Where is he gone though, where is he now? (He’s retired said Stephen A Smith) Why? he went sprinting, he’s gone, s**t his jocks, looking fat, roided up. He has done nothing in the sport. F***all he has done in the sport.”
Conor also claimed: “Ohh brilliant(when reporter mentioned about Khabib’s unbeaten record). He is 13 and 0, fighting guys 3 wins and 6 losses. It was his father’s shows. His father had the show set up and he was fighting blatant guys with 2 wins and 8 losses. That’s his record up till he is 20 and 0. He has 3 fights on the trot in UFC. Before that it’s nothing. It’s pull outs, could not make weight, that’s that. And now he is gone.”
Though Khabib Nurmagomedov has solidified his spot as one of the best lightweights in UFC if not the best lightweight ever it’s hard to put Khabib up there among the GOATs such as Jon Jones, GSP, and Anderson Silva.
And as far as his achievements are concerned, it will be insane to compare him to the likes of GSP or Jon Jones.
It is to be noted that Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from the sport following his title defense against Justin Gaethje.