In the fight game, respect is earned in blood, sweat, and sometimes—words. Paul Hughes knows this well. The Irishman may have fallen short in his battle against Bellator lightweight king Usman Nurmagomedov at PFL: “Road to Dubai,” but he walked away with more than just bruises. He gained the admiration of the Dagestani camp, including the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov himself. But Conor McGregor had an entirely different response to the exchange! 

It should have been a moment of mutual respect, a truce between warriors from rival lands. However, the former double champ, never one to let a perceived slight go unchecked, took issue with Hughes’ post-fight conversation with ‘The Eagle’ and hasn’t slowed down in firing salvos at his fellow Irish fighter!

Conor McGregor brings up the past with another round of jabs at Paul Hughes and Khabib Nurmagomedov  

In a recent post on his X account, Conor McGregor shared an image of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes’ interaction alongside another intriguing picture. What was it? ‘The Eagle’ talking to ‘The Notorious’s former friend and training partner, Artem Lobov.

Once McGregor’s right-hand man, Lobov played a key role in the infamous McGregor-Khabib rivalry. The two former friends parted ways in a legal storm over Proper No. Twelve whiskey, with Lobov suing McGregor for millions. That betrayal—at least in McGregor’s eyes—cemented Lobov as an enemy.

And now, here was Hughes, standing alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov, the man who had been at the center of McGregor’s most bitter feud. In a follow up post below the image, McGregor fired off by stating, “’I’m not like that other guy, sir’ F**king Pathetic.” The comment was short but laced with venom.

That wasn’t all as Conor McGregor also took issue with Hughe’s Irish identity in a series of brutal posts that have now been deleted. For his part, Hughes has taken a measured approach in the face of the criticism being thrown his way from ‘The Notorious’. In a post on X, Hughes responded by stating, “[McGregor, I] always said you were the GOAT, paid homage at every opportunity. But coming at my Irish identity just shows where your head is at.”

While the world watches to see if this war of words escalates into something more, ‘Big News’ seems more focused on his future in MMA than engaging in a prolonged social media battle. After all, even as ‘The Notorious’ continues to fire off salvos against him, Khabib Nurmagomedov had a different response to the situation!

‘The Eagle’ extends an olive branch to Hughes as the Dagestan-Ireland rivalry takes a different turn  

Paul Hughes may have lost the battle, but he won something just as valuable—respect. His performance against Usman Nurmagomedov wasn’t just a fight; it was a statement. He pushed the undefeated champion to the brink, leaving many, including Khabib Nurmagomedov, impressed. So much so that ‘The Eagle’ has now extended an open invitation to Hughes and his family to visit Dagestan!

In a post on X, the former UFC lightweight king stated, “Thank you for the fight Paul Hughes and for the experience, I invite you and your whole team and family to Dagestan, any time you want, believe me you will like it and your arrival will serve as a good example for many young generations”

It was an offer steeped in respect, a rare sign of unity in a rivalry between regions that had once burned white-hot. Hughes, gracious in response, accepted—but on one condition. What was it? He replied by stating, “I would be honored to take you up on this offer someday and then return the favor in Ireland. But, please, only after I get to rematch Usman.”

As such, while ‘The Notorious’ rages, ‘Big News’ keeps his eyes on the real prize—a rematch with Usman Nurmagomedov. Khabib Nurmagomedov’s olive branch could have signaled a truce between Dagestan and Ireland, but McGregor’s sharp tongue ensures old wounds remain fresh. Will Hughes continue to rise above the noise, or will Conor McGregor’s attacks force him into the fray? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!