UFC rivalries reached their peak with Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. No rivalry since has matched the intensity of Khabib vs. McGregor. However, long ago, the Irish fighter and the Dagestani fighter were friends who trained together and exchanged each other’s T-shirts before their relationship soured into one of the most bitter rivalries in UFC history. Their friendship quickly deteriorated into a fierce feud, marked by deep grudges and McGregor’s disrespect toward Khabib’s culture, which was a turning point in their relationship.
When Did The McGregor And Khabib Rivalry Start?
When McGregor was a featherweight, he and Khabib had a mutual respect for each other, exchanging compliments on X (formerly Twitter) and even taking photos together. However, according to Artem Lobov, McGregor’s friend and training partner, things shifted when Khabib began insulting McGregor with a particular word. Lobov, a Russian fighter who trains in Ireland, told ESPN that Khabib’s repeated use of the word ‘chicken’ angered McGregor. In Russian culture, ‘chicken’ is a deeply offensive term, often used to describe a man who has been sexually assaulted.
McGregor amped up the rivalry by targeting Khabib’s religion and making personal attacks. He threw a bunch of offensive comments at Khabib and his family, which Khabib found seriously disrespectful. As a devout Muslim, Khabib saw McGregor’s remarks as a direct assault on his honor, religion, and family.
Trying to handle the drama, Khabib reached out to Artem Lobov, but things got out of hand fast. The Dagestani fighter rolled up on Lobov in a hotel room with 10-12 guys and slapped Lobov during a heated exchange, which only cranked up the feud. This slap also provoked McGregor to a bus attack.
Also Read: 5 Stats That Prove Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov Almost Had Similar UFC Careers
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Conor McGregor’s Bus Attack Before UFC 223
The incident happened at a UFC media event in Brooklyn, New York. A few days before, Khabib Nurmagomedov had a run-in with Artem Lobov, one of McGregor’s close teammates. In retaliation, McGregor and his crew rolled up and ambushed the bus carrying Khabib and other UFC fighters. McGregor grabbed a dolly and hurled it at the bus, smashing a window and injuring some fighters inside.
The stunt sparked outrage and landed McGregor with criminal charges. It was a major escalation of the beef between McGregor and Khabib, who were already set to face off later that year. This attack led to McGregor’s arrest. Despite knowing the potential consequences, McGregor’s wild bus attack only added fuel to the fire, ramping up the hype for their UFC 229 showdown, which became one of the biggest pay-per-view events in UFC history.
Also Read: Which Fights Made Conor McGregor The Biggest UFC Superstar?
The Final Showdown Of Conor McGregor And Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Rivalry
Both UFC stars were set to settle their grudges in the octagon, and this event was highly anticipated due to the prior drama. On top of that, McGregor started mocking Khabib at the pre-fight press conference, ramping up the tension. Fans of combat sports were eagerly waiting to see this clash. On fight night, Khabib defeated McGregor by submission with a rear-naked choke at 3:04 of the fourth round. Many thought the rivalry had ended, but the drama continued.
Right after winning, Khabib yelled at McGregor’s corner and pointed at McGregor’s teammate Dillon Danis. The situation escalated when Khabib jumped out of the octagon and sparked a brawl, creating unprecedented chaos in UFC history. As a result, Khabib was fined $500,000 and suspended for nine months for his actions inside and outside the octagon. McGregor was fined $50,000 and suspended for six months.
UFC 229 became one of the most successful events in UFC history. The main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor broke UFC PPV records, pulling in a staggering 2.4 million buys, making it one of the highest-grossing events ever.
Neither fighter is currently involved in an active feud, though McGregor still occasionally flaunts his brash personality on social media by mocking Khabib. Khabib has retired and shows no signs of returning, while McGregor might come back by the end of 2024. There have been no official announcements yet, so fans will have to stay tuned.
Also Read: VIDEO: Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov Trash Talking During UFC 229 With Muted Commentary
