Khabib avoids naming Conor McGregor, praises Ireland’s support for Palestine after Paul Hughes’ loss
Khabib Nurmagomedov, hailing from Dagestan, enjoyed a stellar career before retiring from sports in 2020 with an unblemished professional record of 29-0. PHOTO: AFP
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.
“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.