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The saga between Conor McGregor and Team Khabib has captured the imagination of MMA fans around the world. McGregor and  Khabib Nurmagomedov first faced off at UFC 229. The build-up to the event saw a heated feud emerge between the two fighters and their camps. McGregor lost the fight due to submission but the fight didn’t end there. ‘The Eagle’ jumped out of the cage and got involved in a brawl with members of McGregor’s team.

The bad blood between the two sides has now carried over to Nurmagomedov’s training partner and friend, Islam Makhachev. Makhachev currently holds the lightweight title which Nurmagomedov relinquished when he retired with an undefeated record in 2021. And with his recent victory against Alexander Volkanvoski at UFC 294, there have been talks in the community about him facing McGregor next. Despite the hype that the event would bring, Makhachev’s coach seems to think McGregor doesn’t deserve a shot at the title!

Conor McGregor gets called out for ‘Dana White privilege’ by Team Khabib 

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Islam Makhachev secured the lightweight title by defeating Charles Oliveira at UFC 280. The fight saw Makhachev display his impressive striking and grappling skills. He dropped Oliveira with a hook that quickly sliced through the Brazilian’s impressive guard and submitted him in the 2nd round.

The two were set to face-off again at UFC 294 but Oliveira had to withdraw from the bout due to a cut he suffered in training. Makhachev then took on Alexander Volkanovski as a short-notice replacement. He ended the fight in the very first round with a head kick. His impressive performance has caused many in the MMA community to call for a fight with Conor McGregor.

McGregor has been out of the UFC since his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. Despite news of his imminent return, Team Khabib coach, Javier Mendez has slammed the idea of him facing Makhachev for the title. Mendez was asked in an interview on YouTube if McGregor deserves to face Makhachev despite only winning one in his last 4 fights. Mendez stated, “…this isn’t a real sport, it’s entertainment first. Coz if it was a real sport, then Conor wouldn’t get the amount of opportunities he gets.”

He emphasized that MMA is more about entertainment than a real sport. From a pure sports standpoint, Conor would need to prove his worth. But MMA is primarily entertainment and McGregor’s opportunities persist due to his massive popularity.

Mendez also stated, “So, from a real sport, no, he needs to show that he’s worthy.” But he acknowledged that this decision ultimately lies with Islam Makhachev, and how he and Khabib Nurmagomedov view the situation. But despite the apprehension from Team Khabib, a former UFC champion has come out in support of the McGregor fight!

Daniel Cormier has expressed interest in watching McGregor vs. Makhachev

Islam Makhachev secured a spectacular victory at UFC 294, finishing Volkanovski in the opening round with a head kick and follow-up strikes. This win stirred conversations about who should challenge for the lightweight title next, and Daniel Cormier presented a surprising suggestion. Cormier proposed that Islam Makhachev should face Conor McGregor, considering it the most lucrative fight for the UFC.

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He emphasized that Makhachev appears to be on the path to becoming a dominant champion, but to reach superstardom, he needs a worthy adversary, and Conor McGregor fits that role. He stated, “You have Islam Makhachev – who looks to be a guy that’s gonna be a dominant champion. In order to have that dominant champion go to the next level of superstardom, you need a foil.

Read More: Confessing for $100M+ Conor McGregor Payday, Islam Makhachev Blasts Tyson Fury for Showing “Boxing in a Bad Light” Against Francis Ngannou

Although McGregor has faced two recent losses and hasn’t fought since his ankle injury in the trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, Cormier argued that a lightweight title fight between Makhachev and McGregor makes sense, especially with the matchup against Michael Chandler seemingly fading away.

It remains to be seen if the rumored matchup does materialize. But fans can be assured of fireworks both inside and outside the cage if the two men do face each other in the future!

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Do you think Islam Makhachev should face Conor McGregor despite the Irishman’s prolonged absence from the sport? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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