There remains no love between former UFC rivals Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
If UFC legends Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov cross paths in the future, don’t expect the former rivals to have a cordial interaction.
Nurmagomedov and McGregor were at the center of one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history at UFC 229. In what remains the highest-selling pay-per-view card in UFC history, Nurmagomedov choked out McGregor in their lightweight title grudge match, before continuing the fight cageside against one of McGregor’s teammates.
Seven years after their UFC 229 showdown, things remain as tense as ever between Nurmagomedov and McGregor.
Conor McGregor reignites feud with ‘biggest b****’ Khabib Nurmagomedov
Although Nurmagomedov retired from fighting in 2020, he remains a key presence in MMA as a coach and occasionally, as an analyst. Since his retirement, McGregor’s UFC career has stalled, while a new superstar has climbed the ranks.
UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is the talk of the MMA world following his knockout win over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 last month. Topuria became the latest fighter to achieve McGregor’s ‘champ-champ’ status.
Due to their brash personalities and elite boxing, Topuria has drawn comparisons to McGregor during his UFC rise. But Nurmagomedov doesn’t understand the similarities, for one brutal reason.
During a recent interview with Russian journalist Adam Zubayraev, Nurmagomedov was asked about Topuria’s future while throwing a subtle jab at his former UFC rival.
“Could Ilia Topuria be the next Conor? No, he’s a good guy,” Nurmagomedov said. “You can tell he’s trying to become someone.”
It didn’t take long for McGregor to respond in a since-deleted post to X.
“Fighting’s biggest b**** yapping out of his fat hole again. Cough cough,” McGregor tweeted.
McGregor and Nurmagomedov have repeatedly traded barbs over the years since their UFC 229 showdown. McGregor most recently scolded fellow Irishman, Paul Hughes, for interacting with Nurmagomedov following a recent PFL fight.
McGregor hasn’t fought since injuring his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. Just days before Poirier’s retirement fight at UFC 318, McGregor announced his planned return to the Octagon in 2026.
Conor McGregor confirmed UFC comeback plans for planned card at The White House
McGregor is one of several prominent UFC stars expressing profound interest in fighting at the promotion’s planned card at The White House next July. U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement last month prompted UFC CEO Dana White to move forward with a plan to host an upcoming card on the White House lawn.
Since then, McGregor, Jon Jones and others have thrown their names in the hat to potentially headline the card. Jones reversed his recent retirement following President Trump’s announcement.
In a recent interview with The Schmo, McGregor confirmed his intentions to get back into the UFC’s drug testing pool with the hopes of returning next year. Michael Chandler is a top option for McGregor’s return opponent.