The rivalry between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team has been brewing for years, and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down. Since their famous fight in 2018, the tension between the Irishman and the Dagestani team has spillted over into their personal lives, with McGregor’s constant outbursts and controversies making headlines. Recently, Islam Makhachev, the lightweight champion and Khabib’s close friend, has reignited the flames, criticizing McGregor for his personal problems.
Makhachev didn’t mince words, saying “The maximum you can do is hit an old man in a bar, fight with women somewhere, spit someone. That is the best you can do right now.” This sentiment is echoed by Khabib, who has never hesitated to speak his mind about McGregor’s antics. As Makhachev put it, “It will never be the same as before Khabib’s fight. Everything that is happening to him now is that he is having a problem with your head. You can’t forget what was in the cage on that day.”
It’s been a tough road for McGregor, who has only won one fight since 2016. His serious injury in 2021 against Dustin Poirier has kept him out of the octagon for an extended period, and many are questioning whether he’ll ever make a full comeback. Makhachev seems to think that McGregor’s problems run deeper than just physical injuries, saying “You can’t forget what was in the cage on that day” – a clear reference to his loss against Khabib.
A distant retreat
Unlike Khabib, who retired at the young age of 32 due to the death of his father, Makhachev has no plans to hang up his gloves anytime soon. At 33, he still has several objectives to achieve, including moving up to a higher weight class. “It’s not as if I saw my end, I have goals, there are peaks that I have not yet achieved. And you have to continue working and working harder. We need a second belt,” he emphasized. For Makhachev, the double championship is the number one target, and he’s not letting his friendship with welterweight champion Belal Muhammad get in the way.
As he put it, “The second belt is my motivation at this time because I already have the first. Hunger is not the same when you wear a belt and when you don’t wear a belt. You have to try to be hungry.” This drive to succeed is what sets Makhachev apart, and he’s not afraid to take on any opponent to achieve his goals. In his last title defense against Renato Moicano, he submitted his opponent in the first round, despite having to change opponents at the last minute due to an injury to Arman Tsarukyan.
The rival doesn’t matter
Makhachev’s mentality is simple: if you’re prepared, it doesn’t matter who’s in front of you. As he said, “If you have spent three months of preparation, who cares who is there? What do you need to change to go against another opponent? You will see your only fight, that’s all.” This philosophy was instilled in him by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s father and mentor, who always taught his students to be confident in their abilities and not fear any opponent. “No matter who is in front of you, you do your work. No matter what your style, what has changed. You have your plan, you have your style. And whoever imposes his style wins. As Abdulmanap said, no matter where you jump if you are ready,” Makhachev finished.
