McGregor Still Considers Himself the UFC LW Champion: Khabib Nurmagomedov Was Never Crowned

Conor McGregor Still Considers Himself the UFC LW Champion: Khabib Nurmagomedov Was Never Crowned

Conor McGregor recently took a dig at Khabib Nurmagomedov, providing several reasons why he still considers himself the UFC LW champion. Currently, he is preparing himself for the return against Dustin Poirier at the UFC 257. 

While talking to Ariel Helwani in an interview at ESPN earlier on, he touched on various topics, including his close Russian rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov who retired from his professional career last year. Conor McGregor said that Khabib isn’t a true fighter and that he is afraid of fighting him for the second time.

If you are a sports bettor, then you will enjoy the thrill and excitement that the event will provide. And the best part is that Sportsbet or naked will be ready to provide competitive odds on the event. Keep reading to discover more about these two close rivals. 

Conor McGregor Questions Khabib’s Championship Status

McGregor and Khabib first collided at the event of UFC 229. During the event, Khabib came out on top through submission in the 4th round. In the process, he also retained the lightweight title. However, McGregor thinks that Khabib isn’t the champion of his eyes. He claimed that because of the brawl that began after their bout, Khabib wasn’t given the UFC title in front of spectators or audience. This casts doubt on Khabib’s championship status.

During the interview, he said that he is the champion and that the title was never crowned. He added that his rival fled the cage and left him fighting with his family members and friends. The infamous brawl started when Khabib vaulted over the fence and attacked Conor’s teammates just after defeating the Notorious One. Most of the Khabib’s teammates also attacked Conor who was in the fighting ring. As a result of this, Khabib was fined, and he faced a suspension for six months. However, he remained the champion on paper, which he still is.

After a long-break, Khabib returned to the fighting ring as he defeated Dustin Poirier to retain his title for the second time. Additionally, he defeated Justine Gaethje at the UFC 254 before retiring from the sport. On the other hand, Conor went on to beat Donald Cerrone at the UFC 246, becoming the best-ranked lightweight in the entire world. A victory over The Diamond will qualify McGregor as the next competitor for the title. However, whether he will fight Khabib Nurmagomedov or someone else for the UFC title remains a massive question.

What Next for the Two Rivals

McGregor has always spoken about a potential rematch on several occasions. However, he appears to have accepted that a rematch with Khabib will not happen. Recently, he said that he was not surprised to see Khabib scurry away as opposed to facing more challenges in the world of sports and fighting. 

Khabib met with the current UFC President, Dana White, who provided a vague update about the retirement of Nurmagomedov during the UFC Fight Island Seven Broadcast. The president said that Khabib will have to see how the UFC 257 will be before deciding to come back to the fighting ring. Whatever decision Khabib Nurmagomedov will make, Conor McGregor does not think he will be part of it.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor have butted heads for many years, with the rivalry between them becoming too personal. Despite that, Conor McGregor says that he has not sensed any animosity in his journey to the United Arab Emirates. McGregor knows that the rivalry will not last for long. The seconds are counting, and the fans of the two great fighters are waiting to see what will happen in the future.

Leave a Reply