There remains a deep animosity between former UFC rivals Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. Despite being UFC legends, if the two cross paths in the future, fans shouldn’t expect any genuine camaraderie. Their intense rivalry reached its peak at UFC 229, the biggest pay-per-view event in UFC history, where Nurmagomedov defended his lightweight title by defeating McGregor. Even seven years later, the tension between them has not eased.
Though Nurmagomedov retired from fighting in 2020, he remains influential in MMA as a coach and occasional analyst. Meanwhile, McGregor’s UFC career has stalled with new fighters rising to prominence. Recently, UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria was compared to McGregor due to his aggressive style and boxing skills. However, Nurmagomedov dismissed these comparisons during an interview, subtly taking a jab at McGregor by saying Topuria is a good fighter but not the next Connor.
McGregor quickly fired back with a controversial deleted tweet. Over the years, the two have frequently exchanged insults since their infamous UFC 229 clash. McGregor hasn’t fought since injuring his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, but he announced plans to return to the Octagon in 2026. He is among several top UFC names interested in fighting at upcoming events planned for the White House lawn, following a recent announcement by former President Donald Trump.
In a recent interview, McGregor confirmed his intention to re-enter the UFC’s drug testing program, aiming to compete again next year with Michael Chandler likely as his comeback opponent.
Fan Take: The ongoing feud between McGregor and Nurmagomedov keeps the UFC landscape charged with drama, maintaining fan interest years after their iconic fight. McGregor’s planned return could reignite rivalries and create exciting matchups that propel the sport forward, much to the delight of fight fans.
