In relation to legendary MMA rivalries, few can match the warmth between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor. The 2 males, each icons in their very own proper, clashed at UFC 229 in October 2018, an evening that delivered fireworks inside and outdoors the cage.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Talks Conor McGregor
Khabib Nurmagomedov, a Russian-Dagestani fighter who retired undefeated at 29-0 and held the UFC Light-weight Championship, was identified for his grappling and calm demeanor. McGregor, the Irish-born celebrity, made historical past as the primary UFC fighter to carry two belts concurrently and drew crowds together with his sharp tongue and knockout energy.
The build-up to their combat was something however well mannered. Conor McGregor, by no means shy with phrases, took his trash discuss to new ranges, concentrating on not simply Khabib Nurmagomedov but in addition his household, faith, and nation. This didn’t sit effectively with Khabib’s coach, Javier Mendez, who just lately didn’t mince phrases about McGregor’s strategy.
“You need to discuss a fighter, go forward, free recreation. However you talked about faith, you talked about household, you talked about nation. I don’t respect fighters who do this,” Mendez stated, in an interview with Mike Perry, making it clear that some traces shouldn’t be crossed.
Khabib received the match, ultimately forcing McGregor to faucet out within the fourth spherical with a face crank, a transfer that left little doubt about who was the higher man that evening. The aftermath was chaotic, with Khabib leaping over the cage to confront McGregor’s workforce, sparking a brawl that made as many headlines because the combat itself.
In keeping with Mendez, that evening modified McGregor. “He hasn’t been the identical after that loss with Khabib. He went down,” Mendez stated, echoing what many within the MMA world have noticed. Earlier than dealing with Khabib, McGregor was on high of the world, having knocked out legends and picked up belts. After the loss, his profession has been rocky: a fast win over Donald Cerrone, however then back-to-back losses and a severe leg damage towards Dustin Poirier that’s saved him out of the cage for years.
In the meantime, Khabib Nurmagomedov retired undefeated and has since change into a coach and promoter. So, whereas McGregor stays an enormous draw and nonetheless talks a giant recreation, his previous spark has dimmed since that evening in Las Vegas. As for Mendez and Crew Khabib, they’re not precisely sending McGregor any vacation playing cards.
