“Thank you for the fight, @paulhughesmma, and for the experience. I invite you and your entire team and family to Dagestan,” Khabib Nurmagomedov wrote on X. “Anytime you want—believe me, you will enjoy it, and your visit will serve as a great example for many young generations.” The UFC Hall of Famer showcased his class and respect for Paul Hughes after he gave Khabib’s cousin, Usman Nurmagomedov, a run for his money in their recent Bellator 155lbs title clash.

Despite the fierce competition, the Irishman lost the title fight by majority decision, which took place at the Coca-Cola Arena in Abu Dhabi last month. What started as a heated rivalry ended with Khabib’s heartfelt message of respect. In response, Paul Hughes graciously accepted Khabib’s invitation, calling it an honor, but with one condition—a “rematch” against Usman Nurmagomedov in his home country of Ireland. This raises an intriguing question: Will ‘Team Khabib’ approve an “Ireland vs. Dagestan 3.0”?

Recently, Usman Nurmagomedov gave the green light for the rematch, sharing a video of himself running on Instagram, captioning it: “My sacrifice in jerks 👊🏻 Revenge next year at the same time in the same place I will give you brother 😂🫂”

This development is sure to raise tensions with UFC megastar Conor McGregor, who had already expressed frustration over the playful banter between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes—once a close associate of the former UFC double champ. Things escalated when Paul Hughes, speaking to Khabib, declared, “I am not like the other guys, I am my own man,” seemingly referring to McGregor.

This remark quickly went viral and caused McGregor’s temper to flare, as he labeled Hughes a “traitor,” which then prompted Nurmagomedov to jump in. Let’s see what ‘The Eagle’ had to say!

Khabib Nurmagomedov lambasts Conor McGregor over rivalry against Paul Hughes

There’s no denying that Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov have had a strained relationship, especially after the infamous UFC 223 bus incident. Moreover, their iconic UFC 229 clash and the chaotic aftermath only added fuel to the fire. However, in early 2025, their rivalry reignited when Khabib made a bold statement challenging the Irish and global MMA scene, claiming they were far from matching Dagestan’s level. This provoked McGregor, who wasted no time in expressing his anger.

However, things took an ugly turn when the Irishman saw Paul Hughes’ friendly interaction with Khabib Nurmagomedov, ‘The Notorious’ took to X to fire back at Hughes, stating, “Too right, YOU’RE NOT! Get that flag [Irish flag] off you, you little—know what you are, c** from up there.”

The situation quickly escalated into a back-and-forth between the former two-division UFC champion and Bellator-PFL contender. As tensions rose, Khabib Nurmagomedov intervened to support Hughes, posting on his Instagram story, “You are a real Irishman [Hughes] and not a ra–st and d-ug addict like this ba—rd.”

What are your thoughts on a potential Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov 2.0? If the rematch goes down, do you think Hughes can exact revenge on the reigning Bellator 155 lbs champion, or will Usman once again prove why Dagestan has such a strong MMA reputation? Share your opinions below!