In an attempt to lure his bitter rival out of retirement, Conor McGregor has expressed his desire for a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The pair faced each other in October 2018 after a controversial build-up which had seen McGregor attack a UFC bus with Khabib on it. Khabib emerged victorious when they did meet in the Octagon, forcing the Irishman to tap out in the fourth round.
Khabib went on to fight twice more before retiring from the UFC in 2020, and he has now moved into coaching, helping friend Islam Makhachev win the UFC lightweight title, while his cousin Usman recently won the equivalent belt in Bellator.
Conor McGregor was beaten by Khabib Nurmagomedov when the pair fought in 2018
He has now called Khabib out for a rematch, before deleting his social media post
Having made a successful start to his coaching career, Khabib has aimed a dig at McGregor, saying: ‘I hear long time ago when one guy was talking about, “We’re here to take over.” But we here to take over.’
Khabib appeared to be referencing McGregor’s famous post-fight speech after he beat Diego Brandao in 2014, when the southpaw claimed that the Irish ‘were not here to take part, we’re here to take over!’
It did not take McGregor long to respond to Khabib’s comments, as he offered the Russian out for a rematch on Twitter, before later deleting his post.
McGregor wrote: ‘I fight on! Your father’s plan is never complete because you quit and ran, brother.
McGregor has accused Khabib of running away from a rematch with him by retiring
‘God bless. I’m still here if you want to go again. But your fear of defeat means you’ve already lost. Run from it all you want. We all lose in the end. Death takes us all. I fear nothing but God.’
McGregor himself has not fought since July 2021 after breaking his leg in his defeat against Dustin Poirier.
The 34-year-old has teased a comeback for a number of months, though, and it seems he is open to returning against Khabib.
Whether he can convince Khabib, who finished with a professional record of 29-0, to come out of retirement is another matter, as his rival has made no suggestion that he is interested in fighting again.
