Conor McGregor Fires Fresh Shots at Khabib Nurmagomedov, Says Islam Makhachev Is “Above” Him
Conor McGregor hasn't forgotten about his fierce rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
While Conor McGregor's long-running feud with Khabib Nurmagomedov peaked inside the Octagon at UFC 229, the two haven’t buried the hatchet just yet. Ahead of his long-awaited return against Max Holloway at UFC 329, the former two-division champion reignited one of MMA's fiercest rivalries with a blistering assessment of Nurmagomedov's legacy.
“The Notorious” not only dismissed the undefeated Dagestani's accomplishments but also made the surprising claim that current welterweight champion Islam Makhachev has already surpassed his close friend and mentor in the UFC's all-time pecking order.
Conor McGregor Tears Into Khabib Nurmagomedov’s UFC Legacy
McGregor has never hidden his feelings about Nurmagomedov, but his latest comments might as well be his harshest yet. While discussing the greatest fighters in UFC history, the Irishman argued that "The Eagle" simply doesn't belong in that conversation.
According to McGregor, Nurmagomedov's 13-fight UFC run lacked enough elite opposition to warrant the praise it receives today. Reflecting on the same, he told Complex's Jordan Rose, "The guy done nothing in the sport, 13 fights he's had in the company and three against named opponents."
The Dubliner also revisited their iconic clash at UFC 229, maintaining that the version of himself Nurmagomedov defeated was nowhere near his best. He pointed to his lengthy layoff, personal issues outside the cage, and chaotic lifestyle leading up to the fight.
"He had a fight with me, and I was coming off the yacht. I was doing bad things on the yacht, yeah? I don't even want to say, I was partying heavy, I was up to my eyeballs in court cases and all of this, I hadn't fought in two years."
Conor McGregor Left to Wonder Why Khabib Retired Unbeaten
The criticism didn't stop there. McGregor questioned the Russian’s decision to retire while still undefeated, suggesting the former lightweight champion walked away before fully testing himself -
"And where is he now also? He's gone. So I don't rate him at all, no courage, the man has no courage. The man has succumbed to his pain, and it is a damn shame!"
He also dismissed several aspects of the former lightweight champion’s resume, arguing that the Dagestani never moved up in weight, lacked knockout victories, and built much of his unbeaten record against inexperienced opposition.
McGregor Rips Apart Khabib's Accomplishments
“Never fought above weight divisions, missed weight, three fights, no stoppages, no knockouts,” he added. “Come on, man. How many knockouts has he got? Three or four? You must be mad if you think I'm going to waste my time watching this s**t.”
McGregor then went ballistic, taking aim at the early stages of Nurmagomedov's career, saying, “The first half of his work was fighting on his father's shows in the middle of nowhere in wherever they are from, right? He's 12-0, the opponent he's fighting is 0-0! This isn't boxing… He hasn't done enough. I do not rate him at all.”
McGregor Ranks Islam Makhachev Above Khabib
Despite tearing down Nurmagomedov's legacy, McGregor had far more praise for the current UFC Pound-for-Pound king, Islam Makhachev.
When asked where Makhachev ranks among the sport's all-time greats, McGregor argued that the Dagestani has already accomplished more inside the Octagon than his mentor. He pointed to Makhachev's championship reign, finishing ability, willingness to compete across weight classes, and the fact that he's still actively building his legacy.
"He is above Khabib. Finishes, body of work, both divisions. Still at it. There's a lot left in that boy, and he should recognize that and keep going. I have him above both his teammates (Nurmagomedov and Daniel Cormier) there, call me anything."
Surprisingly, the comments mark a rare moment where McGregor offered praise to a fighter from Nurmagomedov's camp, even if it came at the expense of his former rival.
As McGregor counts down to his return at UFC 329, he's made it clear that settling scores isn't limited to the Octagon. His latest assessment of Nurmagomedov's career is another reminder that their rivalry still lingers long after their 2018 showdown.
