Conor McGregor still has a Khabib Nurmagomedov rematch in his mind, although he acknowledges that the chances of that happening have greatly diminished.
The former UFC double champion said at the UFC 257 news conference on Thursday that he believes there are many unresolved issues between himself and Nurmagomedov. But if Nurmagomedov wants to retire, McGregor said he has no choice but to move forward.
Nurmagomedov’s father and head coach, Abdulmanap, passed away last summer due to complications from COVID-19. Nurmagomedov, the current UFC lightweight champion, announced his retirement after a title defense against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October. He mostly held on to the position that he has since retired in interviews, although he has opened a small window to return.
“It’s a tough business,” McGregor said. “Things went on in his personal life. I wish him no harm. Like I said, it was in 2018. A lot of time has passed. The world knows that this battle is not over. This war is not over. Sport needs it to happen; people need it to happen. I will not pursue it if he does not want it. And that’s it. I’ll stay calm and move on. And that’s what I do. I “I’m here again in the £ 155 division. I’ll show the world what’s over time.”
Nurmagomedov beat McGregor through the fourth round at UFC 229 in October 2018. The run-up to the fight was ugly, with McGregor arrested for throwing a dolly through a bus window in search of Nurmagomedov, who had slapped Artem Lobov, McGregor teammate Artem Lobov, days earlier. . After Nurmagomedov’s victory over McGregor, he climbed out of the Octagon and started a fight with McGregor’s team. Inside the cage, McGregor was attacked by Nurmagomedov training partners. Several suspensions have been handed down by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
McGregor and Nurmagomedov are in the same hotel in Abu Dhabi this week. McGregor fights Dustin Poirier Saturday in the UFC 257 main event. Nurmagomedov is in town to cultivate the corner of his cousin Umar, who won the UFC Fight Night card on Wednesday. The two have yet to meet, and UFC security is aware of the threat.
“What I will say is, as long as we fight again, there will be no problem,” McGregor said. “That’s it. If he keeps running, I’m not sure. We’ll see what happens.”
Nurmagomedov remains the UFC lightweight champion, but McGregor does not think it will last any longer.
‘I would state the case, if the man continues to evade it and the commitment to compete again evades, the title should be stripped and [Poirier and I] McGregor will have to fight a title fight, but I’m sure it will happen after this fight. I’m interested to hear the apologies or what will be said after the fight. But I predict a title strip. ‘