Khabib Nurmagomedov takes vicious shot at Conor McGregor while backing Paul Hughes

The bad blood between Nurmagomedov and McGregor is alive and well.
Craig Kidwell-Imagn Images

Khabib Nurmagomedov was far less cordial in his response to Conor McGregor’s recent tirade than Paul Hughes was.

Hughes Brushes Off McGregor Tirade

The rivalry between “The Eagle” and “The Notorious” is one of the most infamous in MMA history, and even more than five years after Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor in the main event of UFC 229 the bad blood between the two men still runs deep.

Khabib Nurmagomedov fights Conor McGregor during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena.
Khabib Nurmagomedov fights Conor McGregor during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena. / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Paul Hughes responds to Conor McGregor's wild social media attacks

Nurmagomedov initially ran afoul of Hughes leading up to PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series for his comments about the quality of Dagestani vs. Irish MMA, but after “Big News” and Khabib’s cousin Usman put on an incredible fight in Dubai the two camps quickly buried the hatchet in the event’s aftermath.

Paul Hughes and Usman Nurmagomedov put on an incredible fight at PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series.
Paul Hughes and Usman Nurmagomedov put on an incredible fight at PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series. / (Jose Peñuela / PFL)

A recent video from Anatomy of a Fighter covering the Hughes vs. Nurmagomedov fight sent McGregor on a social media tirade against Hughes, who delivered a simple response after the UFC star's comments turned towards the 27-year-old’s home country of Northern Ireland.

“Always said u were the goat, payed homage at every opportunity. But coming at my Irish identity just shows where your head is at.”

UFC star Conor McGregor goes viral at college basketball game

Nurmagomedov Torches McGregor For Deleted Posts

Hughes could have been forgiven if he’d lashed out with the same energy McGregor brought in his now-deleted posts, but one person that was more than happy to not pull any punches was Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Khabib Nurmagomedov absolutely ripped Conor McGregor on Instagram for his comments about Paul Hughes.
Khabib Nurmagomedov absolutely ripped Conor McGregor on Instagram for his comments about Paul Hughes. / (Instagram)

“You are a real Irishman [Paul Hughes] and not a rapist and a drug addict like this b******d.” – Nurmagomedov wrote on his Instagram story.

“The Eagle” went on to defend his UFC lightweight title against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje after submitting McGregor in 2018. Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0 record after defeating Gaethje at UFC 254, but since the 36-year-old hung up his gloves his rival McGregor has only stepped into the Octagon on two occasions.

Charles Oliveira's manager delivers harsh reality check on Conor McGregor's fighting future

Conor McGregor during halftime in game four of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center
Conor McGregor during halftime in game four of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center. / Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

“The Notorious” was set to compete for the first time since 2021 against Michael Chandler in June before withdrawing from the fight with a broken toe, and as of late McGregor has been far more preoccupied with lawsuits, cutting promos for BKFC, and attending basketball games than preparing for what appears to be an increasingly-unlikely return to the Octagon.

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Drew Beaupre
DREW BEAUPRE

Drew is an MMA writer that regularly watches regional events in addition to major promotions such as the UFC, PFL, Bellator, and ONE Championship. He joined MMA Knockout when it was founded in 2023.