In the world of mixed martial arts, rivalries often burn hotter than the bright lights of the cage. But every so often, a moment of mutual respect shines through the chaos. That’s exactly what happened after the five-round war between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes at PFL Dubai.

When the final bell rang, the undefeated Nurmagomedov walked away with a controversial majority decision victory. Hughes, though disappointed, didn’t sulk. Instead, he extended a hand in respect. That sportsmanship was returned not just by Usman, but by Khabib Nurmagomedov himself, who invited Hughes and his family to Dagestan.

Training with Dagestan’s elite, under the watchful eye of ‘The Eagle’ himself? It’s an opportunity that has shaped champions. But Hughes, driven by unfinished business, had other plans. Rather than jumping at the chance, Hughes replied with gratitude but made one thing clear. He would only consider the invitation after earning a rematch with Usman.

That determination hasn’t gone unnoticed. On a recent episode of the ‘Javier Mendez Podcast’, the AKA (American Kickboxing Academy) head coach weighed in on the Irishman’s response and shared, “The bottom line is Paul Hughes is a class act. You know, it’s like Khabib offered him to come train with the Dagestani boys and he humbly declined. Because he goes, ‘No, I want to fight him again, so maybe after I fight him again and win the title or not win the title, then maybe I’ll come. But right now, kindly decline’.”

Mendez, a man who has coached some of the sport’s greatest champions, understands what drives a fighter. He knows that real warriors don’t take shortcuts. They don’t seek comfort when the battle isn’t over. And for him, Hughes’ decision showed exactly that.

He continued, “Very classy, I mean come on, he’s right you know. He’s very right. It’s like I don’t want to come right now, you know, he has unfinished business. And that’s what a real fighter does, what he’s doing. So I have nothing but huge respect for him and his coaches.”

Yet, the same cannot be said for Paul Hughes’s fellow countryman, Conor McGregor. Rather than celebrating Hughes’ grit, McGregor saw only betrayal. The former UFC champion took to social media in a now-deleted rant, not just insulting Hughes but questioning his very Irish identity. And in a show of his maturity and the qualities that earned him the Dagestani team’s respect, Hughes has come out with a response of his own towards ‘The Notorious’.

Paul Hughes refuses to get dragged into Conor McGregor’s feud with Dagestan and Team Khabib  

For most Irish fighters, Conor McGregor was once the gold standard. The man who put Ireland on the map. Paul Hughes was no different. But in his social media salvo at the young Irish fighter, McGregor didn’t just mock Hughes for showing respect. He brought up a touchy subject about his Irish identity as well, one deeply rooted in history, politics, and bloodshed.

As such, speaking to MMA Fighting, Hughes stated, “Look as I’ve talked about a couple of times now, I didn’t take it very personally, because unfortunately it’s not the Conor that we once knew.”

McGregor’s anger seemed rooted in Hughes’ respect for the Nurmagomedovs, a family he has feuded with since his infamous loss to ‘The Eagle’ in 2018. But Hughes sees no reason to carry that baggage. He wasn’t part of that war. And he certainly wasn’t about to inherit Conor McGregor’s vendetta. He further shared, “I respect anybody on the planet that gets in that cage gets my respect, regardless of what level it’s at. Now of course if you’re a successful athlete where I’m at, I know what it takes to get there and I know the sacrifices that you must [go through] to get here. I have respect for all these guys.”

In the end, once the face of Irish combat sports, McGregor now finds himself lashing out at a rising star who refuses to follow in his footsteps—choosing respect over rivalry, honor over hostility. Meanwhile, Team Khabib’s praise for Hughes serves as a subtle yet undeniable jab at ‘The Notorious,’ reminding him that not all Irish fighters are fueled by old grudges. Do you think this is the end of the Dagestan vs Ireland rivalry? Or is there more to come? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!