MMA legend details why Conor McGregor won't let go of Khabib Nurmagomedov feud after livestream outburst (2024)

Conor McGregor is one of the biggest stars in all of sport, but there’s one feud that has always irked him throughout his career.

The Irishman is a former two division UFC world champion and is nearly a billionaire as a result of his many nine-figure fight purses and deals outside of the octagon. He has defeated legends of the sport during his iconic run, although one name famously eluded him.

McGregor faced his arch nemesis Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 at UFC 229, losing by submission in the fourth round after a rough night in Las Vegas. And when his rival retired two years later, he was never able to force the rematch and redeem himself.

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Conor McGregor rips into ‘rat’ Khabib Nurmagomedov in livestream rant

McGregor was in rare form during a recent Kick livestream with Duelbits. The Irishman was asked his opinions on various fighters and issues around MMA, giving unfiltered answers on almost every topic that was brought up during a lengthy gambling session.

And it was standard fare when he was asked about Nurmagomedov, noting that he expects the Russian to return to fighting after an alleged issue with taxes in his home country. “That’s typical rat behavior,” he said of the alleged tax problem.

“Scurrying rat. So, he has bills to pay. ‘Fight for legacy’? Two main events or something he has in the UFC and he owes his b******s to the Russian government. So, he’s gonna pay his f***in’ money that he owes instead of siphoning it out through to other countries.

“I’m ecstatic and delighted that that’s coming on top of him. We all will welcome him back into the fight game where he’s ran from. It’s a rat trap. The rat trap has been set.

“We’re excited about that and to see where it goes. We noticed a little rat scurrying on back. We see him back around. The fat rat we call him.”

Ben Askren brands Conor McGregor ‘jealous’ of Khabib Nurmagomedov

McGregor is infamous for never letting go of his feud with Nurmagomedov, which saw the pair rake in the biggest ever pay-per-view in UFC history. Former Bellator and ONE FC champion Ben Askren believes that is due to a deep envy he feels for his rival, who is believed to be a more respected fighter.

“He’s going to be 80 years old attacking Khabib because he’s jealous, of course,” Askren said on his podcast Funky and the Champ. “No doubt in my mind at all. He’s got all the money in the world. Deep down in his heart, what he wanted to be was the most respected fighting champion on planet earth.

“No money can make up for that. That’s what Khabib is. Khabib is a fighting champion that everyone has a deep amount of respect for because of the way he lived his life. Conor wishes that he had that much respect for himself… So, of course he’s jealous of Khabib.”

Daniel Cormier hits back at Ben Askren’s Conor McGregor ‘jealousy’ claim

Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier is a close friend and training partner of Nurmagomedov’s. And the wrestling star was involved in calming him down during a post-fight brawl that broke out following UFC 229.

And while debating with Askren on the pair’s show Cormier noted that after retiring on top without a loss, Nurmagomedov’s lifestyle is one that stokes jealousy within most former athletes. However, he refused to agree with the assessment with regards McGregor, who is even wealthier.

“I’m jealous that he lives in Europe and he gets to travel to the football games and he gets to watch high level football and stuff like that. But he’s also got a boat load of money, he was undefeated, there are a lot of reasons to be jealous of Khabib.

“I would never have said that’s the first word that comes to mind when Conor McGregor speaks about Khabib.” But Askren quickly replied by asking Cormier: “Why else would it always come up? It always comes up out of nowhere.”

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