Conor McGregor has reignited his long-running feud with Khabib Nurmagomedov, dismissing the retired UFC champion’s achievements during a new interview with Complex. The comments return the focus to one of MMA’s most bitter rivalries, nearly eight years after Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor at UFC 229.
‘The Notorious’ said Nurmagomedov’s win over him came in unusual circumstances, arguing that he had been inactive and dealing with issues away from training. “He did nothing in the sport. He fought me off the yacht. I was doing bad things, partying heavily. I hadn’t fought in 2 years and did 4 rounds with him. This guy’s nothing. The man has no courage. The first half of his career was on his father’s shows in the middle of nowhere. Wherever they’re from.”
Conor McGregor Dismisses Khabib Nurmagomedov: “This Guy’s Nothing”
McGregor’s comments came during his return against Max Holloway at UFC 329, which ended in 69 seconds. Fighting for the first time since July 2021, the Irish-born athlete appeared to injure his right knee when he missed an early kick, then fell to the canvas more than once as Holloway recognized the problem. Referee Mike Beltran stopped the welterweight contest at 1:09 of the opening round, awarding Holloway a TKO victory due to injury.
The Irishman and Nurmagomedov met in October 2018 in Las Vegas, with the Russian defending the UFC lightweight title via fourth-round neck crank submission. The event drew major attention after years of personal disputes, press-conference confrontations and the bus attack at Barclays Center earlier that year. The finish was followed by a post-fight brawl involving members of both teams.
‘The Notorious’ had entered that fight as MMA’s first UFC two-division champion. He stopped Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to win the featherweight belt at UFC 194 in 2015, then knocked out Eddie Alvarez to take the lightweight championship at UFC 205 the following year. He moved into boxing for a 2017 fight with Floyd Mayweather, losing by 10th-round TKO in one of combat sports’ largest commercial events.
His UFC record since fighting Nurmagomedov has been mixed. McGregor stopped Donald Cerrone in January 2020, then lost consecutive fights to Dustin Poirier in 2021: a second-round TKO defeat at UFC 257 and a doctor-stoppage loss after breaking his leg at UFC 264. His planned return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024 was cancelled after McGregor sustained a toe injury in training.
Nurmagomedov’s post-McGregor record provides a different reading of the rivalry. He submitted Dustin Poirier at UFC 242, then stopped Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in 2020, retiring with a 29-0 professional record after the death of his father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Since stepping away from competition, he has worked as a coach and mentor for fighters including Islam Makhachev, Umar Nurmagomedov and Tagir Ulanbekov.
Makhachev later became UFC lightweight and welterweight champion and has been one of the leading figures from the team built by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and continued by Khabib. McGregor, meanwhile, expanded his business activity by acquiring a substantial ownership stake in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship through McGregor Sports and Entertainment, although the exact size of his holding has not been publicly disclosed.
McGregor has also faced serious legal controversy outside the cage. In November 2024, a Dublin civil jury found him liable in a case brought by Nikita Hand and awarded damages; McGregor has denied the allegation and pursued an appeal. BKFC president David Feldman said McGregor remained involved with the promotion despite the case.
Despite McGregor’s latest criticism, Nurmagomedov’s retirement record and title-defence wins remain part of the public record. Their UFC 229 meeting has never had a sequel, and with Nurmagomedov firmly retired, McGregor’s comments are unlikely to lead to a rematch.
