After 4 Years, Conor McGregor & Khabib Rivalry Stays Ignited as Islam Makhachev Throws Shade at the Irishman Before UFC 280

Conor McGregor has indulged in several memorable rivalries and grudge matches in the UFC. However, none of them is as mammoth as the one he had with Khabib Nurmagomedov. The ‘Notorious’ and the ‘Eagle’ share one of the most bitter and personal feuds in the sport’s history.

Although it’s been almost four years since the pair met in the center of the octagon, the spitefulness between the two hasn’t toned down even a bit. Both McGregor and Nurmagomedov do not fail to take shots at each other whenever the opportunity is provided.

The animosity between the pair has reached an extent where even their friends throw constant shade at each other. Most recently, almost four years on and weeks before his title fight at UFC 280, UFC lightweight and ‘The Eagle’s childhood friend, Islam Makhachev, posted a story on Instagram. 

In this UFC 229 main event highlights clip, Nurmagomedov landed significant blows on the feet before he shot for a takedown and asserted his dominance on the ground. ‘The Eagle’ rag-dolled a visibly exhausted McGregor and controlled him with ease. The champion displayed his grappling skills as he shifted from full mount to the Irishman’s back.

The origin of Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor

They planted the seeds of this rivalry during the weigh-ins of UFC 205 with a verbal altercation backstage. Two years later, things went completely south when the undefeated fighter and his entourage hounded McGregor’s friend Artem Lobov. 

This enraged the Irishman, and two days later, on April 5, he showed up backstage post-UFC 223 media event with a mob of his own and attacked the bus carrying the PPV fighters. 

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Months later, the UFC booked Conor McGregor vs Khabib Nurmagomedov for UFC 229. The pair’s press conference saw the Irish fighter throw extremely personal jabs at ‘The Eagle’. 

The two ultimately met inside the octagon where the Russian imposed his will on his challenger (Islam Makhachev, who will fight (at UFC 280) for the same title that was on the line at UFC 229, shared clips of the same).

Post-fight mayhem and aftermath

Things went extremely out of control after the Russian decided to jump outside the octagon towards McGregor’s corner. Meanwhile, some of Nurmagomedov’s teammates entered the octagon to attack ‘The Notorious’. Given the chaos, the UFC escorted both men out and did not officially wrap the belt around Nurmagomedov’s waist in the octagon. 

The lead-up to the fight, the fight itself, and the post-fight incident- everything to this day, remains fresh in fans’ memories. Moreover, to this day, it is the most successful fight in the UFC with 2.4 million PPV buys. Most of the rivalries settle down. However, this one seems like a never-ending tale.

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