The ongoing “war of words” between Ireland and Dagestan shows no signs of cooling off anytime soon. The controversy was sparked by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s blunt remarks about Ireland and its MMA scene. Where he downplayed the caliber of Irish fighters in comparison to those from Dagestan. Since then, the MMA world has been buzzing, especially after Khabib tried to backtrack on his comments last week, writing on X, “You can’t compare Irish fighters with fighters from Dagestan.”

However, despite a brief lull in tension, the animosity between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Irish MMA star

Conor McGregor has reignited. With McGregor’s name once again surfacing alongside Paul Hughes. In response to ‘The Eagle’s’ disrespect toward Ireland, Hughes boldly fired back with a five-word ultimatum to ‘Team Khabib’: “Just wait and see, lads.” As the fight approaches, the words of the UFC Hall of Famer continue to resonate in Paul Hughes’ mind, fueling the fire even further.

Today, ESPN MMA shared a picture of Khabib Nurmagomedov and his team after a training session, captioned, “When you have Khabib as your coach!” The image showed ‘The Eagle’ surrounded by his exhausted team, all lying on the floor—a moment that echoed a sentiment shared by BJJ legend Royce Gracie on the JRE podcast. Gracie discussed the secret to the success of Dagestani fighters in combat sports, emphasizing that it’s not just their wrestling skills but their unparalleled “discipline,” a point he made clear during his appearance.

Fueling the fire of the rivalry, Paul Hughes commented on the ESPN post featuring the training photo, bringing up Usman Nurmagomedov’s PED suspension, saying, “You forgot the part where they take steroids together.” In 2023, the California State Athletic Commission found Usman guilty of testing positive for a banned substance. He was handed a six-month suspension and fined $50,000. Although Usman kept his lightweight title, Bellator 300 officials overturned his victory over Brent Primus to a no-contest. Usman’s manager defended the situation, claiming prescribed medication caused the suspension, stating, “Usman’s illness required prescribed medication.”

Regardless of what Usman Nurmagomedov’s manager claimed, the incident now leaves a stain on the ‘Nurmagomedov’ name. Meanwhile, no one from ‘Team Khabib’ has failed a drug test since its inception, making this a dark mark on the Bellator lightweight champion’s record for life. This issue was brought into focus a few months ago by the UFC champion.

Ilia Topuria criticizes Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin over a failed drug test

In October 2023, as UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria prepared for his first title defense against Max Holloway, tensions with Islam Makhachev were also brewing. The rivalry quickly involved the entire “Team Khabib,” where any insult to one member prompted a unified response from the team. As ‘El Matador’ pursued his dream of becoming a two-division champion, Makhachev stood in his way. The situation escalated when Topuria boldly stated he preferred to face Makhachev in the octagon rather than on the streets, adding, “I’ll have to pay for his medical bills.”

Though Islam Makhachev did not directly retaliate to the verbal jab, Usman Nurmagomedov jumped in, defending Makhachev and targeting Topuria with his own remark: “When did you ever fight on the streets, European boy?” This comment prompted Topuria to dig into Nurmagomedov’s past, calling out his PED suspension with a taunt, “It’s been a while, to be honest. How’s it going with the drugs? Are you still on steroids?”

What’s your opinion on Paul Hughes’ recent comment? Do you think the Ireland vs. Dagestan rivalry has escalated to a whole new level? With the Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes fight still over two weeks away, do you think this controversy will settle down anytime soon? Who are you backing in this matchup—Hughes or Nurmagomedov? Share your thoughts below.