Conor McGregor may not be actively competing currently, but there’s no doubt how big of a star he still is in the sporting world. But while he wasn’t representing Ireland, PFL star Paul Hughes was making rounds. However, after his loss to Usman Nurmagomedov, he got a bit cordial with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Co., which certainly did not please McGregor.

Following his loss last weekend, Paul Hughes engaged in a conversation with Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team. The young Irishman, after the respect he received from his opponent, made sure to let ‘The Eagle’ know that he had naught in common with Conor McGregor. “I’m not like this other guy. I’m my own man.” But ‘The Notorious’, as we all know, doesn’t hold back. After losing hold of his Proper No. 12 Irish whisky brand due to his civil lawsuit, McGregor has kept a firm grip on the beer brand, Forged Irish Stout, which was what he used to take a dig at Hughes.

Through this brand, the Irishman has been able to provide jobs to the people of Ireland. In an Instagram story, he stated, “Body of work unmatched. Today I employ over 200 people in the country of Ireland alone. Certified!” The former UFC champion posted the same Instagram story on X and as proud as he was, Conor McGregor made sure Paul Hughes knew that when he captioned the post, “Too right YOU’RE NOT,” mocking the young Irishman’s earlier response.

It’s been a total 180-degree turn for Conor McGregor, who was one of the biggest cheerleaders of Paul Hughes heading into the latter’s lightweight title fight against Usman Nurmagomedov. But guess what? The change in McGregor’s perspective hasn’t hurt Hughes, who wants to be a champion. For that, he even mentioned wanting to move to Dagestan to become a better fighter.

Despite Conor McGregor’s disapproval, Paul Hughes is open to training in Dagestan

Team Khabib showcased real sportsmanship after Usman Nurmagomedov’s narrow win over Paul Hughes. They not only praised the young Irishman for his incredible performance against a member of what people claim to be the best MMA team in the world but ‘The Eagle’ even extended an offer for Hughes to come and train with them in Dagestan. Well, the PFL star did consider that option but he has one condition.

Paul Hughes believes he won the fight against Usman, and for that, he wants a rematch. If the promotion sets up the fight once again, the 27-year-old is open to step foot in the Republic of Dagestan. “Thank you, Khabib. I have great respect for you, your team, and your nation,” Hughes stated on X in response to Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s invitation. “I would be honoured to take you up on this offer someday and then return the favour in Ireland… But please, only after I get to rematch Usman.”

While it will be interesting to see how that pans out, there’s no doubt that Paul Hughes has made a great impression on the MMA community, proving that he’s a legitimate threat in the sport. While he’s not on the same level as Conor McGregor, he’s still working his way up the ladder. But in the meantime, do you think the former UFC champion taking a shot at Hughes was necessary? Let us know in the comments down below.