Backed by Khabib, Paul Hughes Trolls Conor McGregor With a 5-Word Message

The war of words between Irish stars Paul Hughes and Conor McGregor continues to heat up. It all began earlier this week when tensions flared between Hughes and ‘Team Khabib’ in Dubai after PFL Championship 1, which featured a title fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Hughes. However, the event ended on a positive note, seemingly burying the long-standing “Dagestan vs. Ireland” rivalry.

Subsequently, Khabib Nurmagomedov extended an invitation to Hughes and his team to visit Dagestan, calling it an opportunity to “set a good example for the younger generation.” Hughes respectfully accepted the invitation but added a playful condition: “Only after I get my rematch with Usman.” While the exchange was lighthearted, it didn’t sit well with McGregor. As expected, the Irishman, who has a well-documented feud with ‘The Eagle,’ was unhappy seeing an Irish fighter getting along with his archrival.

The situation further escalated when a video surfaced of Hughes telling Nurmagomedov, “I am not like the other guy. I am my own man,” seemingly taking a shot at McGregor. This remark ignited a fiery response from the former UFC champion, who fired back with a series of verbal attacks, starting with: “Too right, YOU’RE NOT! Get that flag off you, you little—know what you are, c** from up there.” Amid the tension, Khabib Nurmagomedov stepped in to support Paul Hughes, labeling him a “real Irishman.”

As tensions reached new heights, the feud intensified even further when Conor McGregor recently posted an edited picture on X, showing Hughes licking a boot with the caption: “I love Dagestan. I am not like that other bad Irish man.” In response, Hughes shared the post on his Instagram story, proving he was unfazed by McGregor’s criticism, writing: “Still pissing myself at this,” alongside laughing emojis.

Now 36, Conor McGregor was once a dominant force in the UFC, renowned for his trash-talking and polarizing persona. His rapid rise in the promotion played a pivotal role in bringing MMA to a global audience, captivating fans, and achieving record-breaking PPV buys and live gate numbers. McGregor’s influence has set the bar for every new generation of fighters to aspire to, including Paul Hughes, who still holds deep respect and admiration for the fighter who once served as his idol.

“Greatest” Conor McGregor praised by Paul Hughes despite feud

Paul Hughes has remained focused, regardless of what Conor McGregor thinks of him. For Hughes, the Irishman has long been a source of inspiration, something he reflected on amid their ongoing controversy. “I’ve always paid Conor homage at every opportunity,” Hughes shared. “I’ll always say that he’s the greatest to ever do it. Always will. I’ll always believe that. But nah, man, it honestly just didn’t really bother me coming from him, because I just don’t put much weight on what he says anymore — which, honestly, is kind of a sad thing.”

However, despite their past connections, the relationship has been strained. Though ‘The Notorious’ and Hughes have occasionally sparred together, whenever Hughes asked Conor McGregor to corner him, McGregor never showed up. Meanwhile, the Irishman, a figure constantly surrounded by controversy, now faces a career-low following the Dublin High Court ruling him liable for an a–ault case. A woman accused Conor McGregor of a–aulting her in a Dublin hotel back in 2018, leading to a rift with many of McGregor’s associates.

As this controversy continues to evolve, the question remains: Do you think Conor McGregor’s behavior toward Hughes was warranted? Share your thoughts below.