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Time of India
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Conor McGregor fires back at Khabib Nurmagomedov in deleted post as UFC feud resurfac
Conor McGregor fires back at Khabib Nurmagomedov in deleted post as UFC feud resurfaces (Image Via X) A sudden burst of tension returned to the UFC world as Conor McGregor shook the internet on July 22, 2025. The former featherweight and lightweight champion, known for bold words, took aim at UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov in a fiery post on X. Though the message was soon deleted, the tone was unmistakable. The old feud that saw a bus window smashed in Brooklyn and their grudge match at UFC 229 has now been reignited. This surprise outburst proves the rivalry between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov still resonates, even seven years after they last faced each other. Conor McGregor fires at Khabib Nurmagomedov after comments on Ilia Topuria On July 22, 2025, Conor McGregor responded sharply to Khabib Nurmagomedov's recent comments about rising UFC lightweight star Ilia Topuria. During an interview with Russian journalist Adam Zubayraev, Khabib Nurmagomedov said: 'Could Ilia Topuria be the next Conor? No, he's a good guy. You can tell he's trying to become someone.' In reply, Conor McGregor blasted:'Fighting's biggest b**** yapping out of his fat hole again. Cough cough.' in a post later removed from his X account. This incident echoes their infamous past. Back in April 2018, Conor McGregor invaded the backstage of Khabib Nurmagomedov UFC 223 fight in Brooklyn and hurled a dolly through a bus window, an act that fueled major hype. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo Their bitterness climaxed at UFC 229 on October 6, 2018, at the T‑Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where Khabib Nurmagomedov choked out Conor McGregor. That fight became the highest-selling UFC pay-per-view of all time, with 2.4 million buys. Khabib Nurmagomedov points out UFC's role as Conor McGregor plans return Khabib Nurmagomedov, now retired and working as a coach, recently reflected that much of their original feud was driven by UFC boss Dana White. He said the bus incident was 'all Dana's doing' and added : 'Hunter alone wouldn't have been enough. They were all involved'. Meanwhile, McGregor is preparing for a comeback. He has been out of the Octagon since July 2021, when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. McGregor confirmed he plans to return in mid‑2026 and has expressed interest in fighting at the much‑talked‑about UFC event at the White House lawn, slated for July 2026 to mark 250 years of American independence. As both fighters stay busy in their own way, the old rivalry is now rekindled. With McGregor's return upcoming and Khabib still waylaying fighters from behind the scenes we can see further tension and headlines to come. Also Read: Donald Trump Backs Possible UFC Fight As Michael Chandler Targets White House Battle With Conor McGregor FAQs 1. Why did Conor McGregor delete his tweet on Khabib Nurmagomedov? Conor McGregor deleted his tweet after he disrespectfully referenced Khabib for the second time likely so the media wouldn't blow it up again and possibly suspend him by the UFC. 2. When did Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor last fight? Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor at UFC 229 on October 6, 2018 in Las Vegas. 3. Is Conor McGregor returning to UFC in 2026? Yes, Conor McGregor mentioned earlier this year he returns in mid-2026 at a UFC event presumably on the lawn of the White House. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
New York Post
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Conor McGregor directly addresses nude leak ‘distraction' after Azealia Banks post
Conor McGregor has made a defiant response to rapper Azealia Banks, who seemingly shared several explicit photos of the Irish MMA fighter after accusing him of sexual harassment. 'Don't let them distract you with my [giant c—] while they rob our country blind!' McGregor posted on X Tuesday in an apparent response to Banks. Advertisement In an X post that has since been taken down by the platform, Banks included a pair of screenshots of messages allegedly from McGregor that include photos of him, fully naked, posing in front of a mirror. The screenshots are part of Banks' alleged DM chat with McGregor on X, with one message saying, 'lifting weights,' in reference to what appears to be a weight wrapped around his penis. The other message reads: 'Don't be a rat cos all rats get caught.' Advertisement 4 Conor McGregor posing on the scale at the UFC 229 weigh-in in October 2018. Zuffa LLC via Getty Images 'How you gonna send a bitch a some crooked d–k pics then threaten her not to tell,' Banks wrote on social media in response. '@TheNotoriousMMA n–a do you know who the f–k I am? This is HARAM.' She also added on X: 'Like how are you really going to sexually harass me with the potato farmer d–k then threaten me not to tell???? Honey…… ain't u trying to be the president of Ireland what is it giving fam? Use some f–ing sunscreen damn.' 4 Azealia Banks performing in London in September 2024. Getty Images Advertisement 4 Azealia Banks shows two pictures of Conor McGregor nude. X/@azealiaslacewig McGregor, the former welterweight and lightweight champion of the UFC, appears unbothered by the drama surrounding him. The 37-year-old announced in March he would be running for the Irish presidency on a primarily anti-immigration platform, although McGregor will reportedly be unlikely to get his name on the ballot for the Nov. 11 election. McGregor was also found guilty of sexual assault in November 2024, and he is appealing the ruling. Advertisement 4 Connor McGregor in Philadelphia on Jan. 22. GC Images Amid all of that, McGregor – who is engaged to his longtime partner Dee Devlin – was also photographed with a mystery woman over the weekend in Florida. McGregor has not fought since suffering a leg injury in 2021, although he has hinted at having interest in partaking in a UFC event being planned for the White House on July 4, 2026 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of Independence Day.
Express Tribune
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Conor McGregor deletes post after Game of Thrones actor references Khabib loss
Former UFC champion Conor McGregor found himself on the receiving end of a brutal social media takedown this week from Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham, forcing the fighter to delete his controversial post. The exchange began when Cunningham - best known for playing Davos Seaworth in the HBO series - shared a post about Israel's seizure of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla. McGregor, who has increasingly involved himself in political discussions, responded with a mocking comment: "I thought you were on the boat Liamo, what happened? You forgot your sea goggles? You get sea sick off the gargle? Bottler." Cunningham delivered a cutting response that quickly went viral: "Didn't know you could read and write Conor. Thought you used your hands to tap out" - a clear reference to McGregor's infamous 2018 submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. The Irish fighter, who hasn't competed since July 2021, promptly deleted his original post, continuing his pattern of removing controversial social media content after backlash. McGregor has recently expressed interest in running for Irish presidency, though this latest exchange highlights the potential pitfalls of his combative online persona. The actor's retort struck particularly hard as it recalled one of the lowest moments in McGregor's fighting career. His submission to Nurmagomedov's neck crank remains one of his most high-profile defeats, followed by two knockout losses to Dustin Poirier in their subsequent trilogy fights. Cunningham, meanwhile, has established himself as a vocal humanitarian activist, with his Gaza-related posts reflecting his ongoing advocacy work. The sharp contrast between their public personas - the brash MMA star versus the politically engaged actor - made the exchange particularly noteworthy. This incident marks yet another example of McGregor's controversial social media presence, where his provocative posts often generate significant attention before being deleted. His online activity continues to draw scrutiny even as his fighting career remains on hiatus.
Express Tribune
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Khabib praises Ireland's support for Palestine, avoids naming Conor McGregor after Paul Hughes' loss
Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov recently addressed fans at the PFL Champion Series 1 event in Dubai, where he praised the people of Ireland for their support of Palestine. While reflecting on the long-standing MMA rivalry between fighters from Dagestan and Ireland, Nurmagomedov notably avoided mentioning Conor McGregor's name. Khabib's rivalry with McGregor, one of the most heated in UFC history, shaped much of the tension between Irish and Dagestani fighters. While reflecting on this history, he notably avoided naming McGregor and instead praised Ireland's support for Palestine. Following Usman Nurmagomedov's majority decision victory over Ireland's Paul Hughes, Khabib addressed the crowd, shifting attention from the fight to a broader message. 'I just want to say one thing. Everything started from my fight with the other guy [McGregor], but don't forget—Ireland is the biggest supporter in the world for Palestine. Don't forget this. We love you guys. Your government, your people, everybody. In the cage, it's only competition. MMA is all about respect. We love you guys because you support our brothers in Palestine,' Nurmagomedov said. The rivalry between Khabib and McGregor peaked at UFC 229 in 2018, when the Dagestani fighter defeated McGregor via submission in the fourth round. The fight's aftermath turned chaotic as Khabib jumped out of the cage to attack McGregor's teammate, Dillon Danis, sparking an all-out brawl between their teams. While Khabib's rivalry with McGregor remains a defining moment in his career, his comments at the PFL event suggest a shift from past animosities to promoting respect and solidarity beyond the octagon.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hey PFL, don't mess this up: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes rematch must be a priority
When the final bell rung Saturday in Dubai, it was clear that PFL's marketed rivalry between Dagestan and Ireland was nonexistent. Luckily for the promotion, the 25-minute contest fans witnessed at Coca-Cola Arena sprouted a rivalry far more valuable than a vault full of UFC's reheated cabbage. Days prior, during their first face-to-face, PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov confirmed Paul Hughes' suspicions that Nurmagomedov believed their meeting would be a cake walk. 'Who are you?' the champ asked. 'Exactly,' replied the Irishman, grinning like the Cheshire Cat. After the battle, with the majority of the five rounds decided on a knife's edge, Nurmagomedov confirmed his lucky escape. 'Paul Hughes, you are the man, brother,' Nurmagomedov told the arena. 'You are really the man. Brother, you are tough. Honestly, I underestimated this guy, it was my little mistake. I am still undefeated, undisputed Bellator lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov.' 'He used wrestling defense, takedown defense very well,' he added. 'He's tough, he's strong. I didn't think he will be this strong. Brother, you are strong. You told me during our face-to-face that this was a mistake, and you were right, brother. I never take this damage, what I take with him in this fight. I have a lot of pain in my body.' Moments later, cheers erupted around the venue supporting Hughes' calls for a second meeting between the two: 'I just can't wait to see what's in the future, we HAVE to do the rematch in Belfast!' And this is when things became complicated. It remains a mystery what happened to Nurmagomedov between his post-fight interview and when he appeared before the assembled media backstage at PFL Dubai. All we know is, in his estimation, Hughes went from being the opponent who damaged him more than any of Nurmagomedov's previous 18, to someone who was undeserving of a rematch and needed to prove their worth through victories over ... well, anyone else. 'He has to win like three, four fights. He had only two fights and they gave him a title shot,' said the champion. While the about-face in attitude is perplexing, maybe we're underestimating Nurmagomedov's promotional mind? After all, it was his disdainful glances at the upstart Hughes that cast him as a perfect villain in the lead-up the bout. Given the fragile state of mixed martial arts in Ireland, some feared the worst when Friday's weigh-in prompted a skirmish between the Dagestan and Irish fans, which could have been perfect fodder for the many critics the sport has gained nationally. Fortunately, according to those in attendance, the incident dispersed within seconds. Had it escalated, the blame would have fallen squarely on PFL for stoking the embers of a once flammable rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. Back in 2018, the post-fight fracas at UFC 229 — a reprisal attack on McGregor for his disrespectful comments about Nurmagomedov's culture — capped off one of the darkest promotional builds ever seen in the sport. 'I'm disgusted and sick over it,' UFC president Dana White admitted at the event's post-fight press conference. In the aftermath of UFC 229, in the midst of Irish MMA's fledgling struggle to gain government regulation, the coverage of the event was damning as multiple prominent Irish publications called for the sport to be banned on the Emerald Isle. If UFC 229 acted as a deterrent to the sport in Ireland, Saturday night's PFL offering should have the opposite effect. Despite his narrow defeat, Hughes emerged from the event as the new face of the sport in Ireland. He fought valiantly, and instead of patting himself on the back for going the distance with the immovable Nurmagomedov, he demanded more from himself. Instead of playing into the contrived clash of nations, he dismissed any notion of it and offered his congratulations to the victor. Thankyou @TeamKhabib I have great respect for you, your team and your nation. I would be honoured to take you up on this offer someday and then return the favour in Ireland☘️But please, only after I get to rematch Usman. — Paul Hughes MMA (@paulhughesmma) January 26, 2025 Nurmagomedov rose to the occasion with more eyeballs on him than ever before. In the face of Hughes' constant onslaught, he remained resilient and didn't give up on the task until the bout concluded. Although he changed his mind quite suddenly with regards to Hughes' worthiness of a rematch, he was gracious in victory and left the contest as one of the poster boys for the new era of PFL. It's a unique promotional pairing of athletes too. Neither Nurmagomedov or Hughes have competed for any other major organizations, making their meeting a perfect advertisement for PFL's talent acquisition and matchmaking. The idea of either fighter taking on a different challenge in the wake of what will likely be a contender for 2025's Fight of the Year seems ridiculous. PFL have been waiting for an opportunity to gain the eyeballs of the MMA world. Given the reaction to their first meeting, Nurmagomedov vs. Hughes 2 would be appointment viewing for a captive audience. Do the smart thing, PFL, and don't mess this up.
