Conor McGregor believes Khabib Nurmagomedov’s decision to retire is because he’s running scared of his old rival.
The lightweight champion, 32, called time on his unbeaten career after defending his belt against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi in October, citing a promise he made to his mother following the death of his father in July.
However, Nurmagomedov and the UFC continue to tease a possible comeback for one more fight, to take the Dagestan athlete's professional record to 30-0.
McGregor would be very much in the mix to face Nurmagomedov, in what would be a money-spinning rematch of their controversial 2018 encounter. Nurmagomedov won that bout via a fourth-round submission.
McGregor, though, sees more to Nurmagomedov’s decision to walk away from the sport.
“I think he’s afraid to fight me, that’s for damn sure,” the former two-division champion told ESPN. “I don’t blame him. I know exactly what to face. I fought the best of him that night and he fought the worst of me that night. He knows it, I know it, his team knows it.
“I have the answer to destroy that man. He can pull the wool over people’s eyes only for so long, but it is what it is. I know there’s surrounding things regarding the family. If he’s retired then, that’s it, I wish him well. But I am who I am and I’m at the top and time will show.”
McGregor, also 32, returns to the octagon next Sunday in the headline bout at UFC 257 against Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi. The Irishman has not fought since last January, when he needed only 40 seconds to stop Donald Cerrone.
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McGregor destroys Cerrone at UFC 246
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Conor McGregor celebrates his first round TKO victory againt Donald Cerrone in a welterweight bout during UFC246 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. AFP -
Conor McGregor celebrates his win against Donald Cerrone. Reuters -
Conor McGregor reacts following his first round TKO victory against Donald Cerrone. Reuters -
Boxer Tyson Fury watched on from cage side. AFP -
Conor McGregor pins Donald Cerrone against the cage. Reuters -
Conor McGregor lands a kick against Donald Cerrone. Reuters -
Conor McGregor is introduced before fighting Donald Cerrone. Reuters -
Donald Cerrone is introduced before fighting Conor McGregor. Reuters -
Conor McGregor before his fight against Donald Cerrone. Reuters -
Conor McGregor moves in for a knee hit against Donald Cerrone. Reuters -
Conor McGregor lands a kick to the face of Donald Cerrone. Reuters -
MMA Mixed Martial Arts - UFC 246 - Welterweight - Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States - January 18, 2020 Conor McGregor enters the arena before his fight against Donald Cerrone REUTERS/Mike Blake -
MMA Mixed Martial Arts - UFC 246 - Welterweight - Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States - January 18, 2020 Conor McGregor with Jerry Cerrone, grandmother of Donald Cerrone after the fight REUTERS/Mike Blake -
MMA Mixed Martial Arts - UFC 246 - Welterweight - Conor McGregor v Donald Cerrone - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States - January 18, 2020 Conor McGregor before his fight against Donald Cerrone REUTERS/Mike Blake
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Nurmagomedov has apparently told UFC president Dana White that he will be keeping a close eye on UFC 257, which features also a clash between Michael Chandler and Dan Hooker, then decide if he’d like to come out of retirement. The event brings to a close a third Fight Island series in the capital.
“His hand is showing he’s not a true fighter, in my opinion,” McGregor said. “I mean how could you retire? How could you walk away? There’s so many fights to be had.
“Think of [Nate] Diaz, [Tony] Ferguson, there’s [Charles] Oliveira, the rematch with me. It’s just preposterous to walk away. I think he showed his hand, but then at the same time, there’s family issues. So it is what it is. All the best.”
On a potential rematch, McGregor added: “I’m here for it. I would like it. But if it doesn’t [happen], it doesn’t. I wonder what he’s going to say. Like I said, he can only pull wool over someone’s eyes for so long.”
Fight Island Triple Header continues on Wednesday with the second of its three events at the newly opened Etihad Arena. The card is headlined by Michael Cheese's welterweight bout with Neil Magny.
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Nurmagomedov stops Gaethje at UFC 254
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UFC 254 GALLERY: Dagestan fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his victory over Justin Gaethje of the US after their lightweight title bout on UFC Fight Island in Abu Dhabi. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov celebrates his victory over Justin Gaethje. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov clinches his victory over Justin Gaethje via a second-round triangle choke at Flash Forum. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov takes down Justin Gaethje. Getty -
Justin Gaethje kicks Khabib Nurmagomedov. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov punches Justin Gaethje. Getty -
Khabib Nurmagomedov after his victory. Getty -
Australian fighter Robert Whittaker lands a punch during his victory over Jared Cannonier of the US in their middleweight bout. Getty -
Robert Whittaker after the fight against Jared Cannonier. Getty -
Jared Cannonier punches Robert Whittaker. Getty -
Robert Whittaker punches Jared Cannonier. Getty -
Dagestan's Magomed Ankalaev celebrates his KO victory over Ion Cutelaba of Moldova in their light heavyweight bout on UFC's Fight Island, in Abu Dhabi. Getty -
Magomed Ankalaev knocks down Ion Cutelaba. Getty -
Magomed Ankalaev punches Ion Cutelaba. Getty -
Russian fighter Alexander Volkov celebrates his victory over Walt Harris of the US after their heavyweight bout. Getty -
Alexander Volkov punches Walt Harris. Getty -
Walt Harris punches Alexander Volkov. Getty -
US fighter Lauren Murphy celebrates her victory over Liliya Shakirova of Uzbekistan after their women's flyweight bout. Getty -
Lauren Murphy punches Liliya Shakirova. Getty -
Liliya Shakirova and Lauren Murphy during their bout. Getty -
US fighter Phillip Hawes lands a punch during his 18-second victory over Jacob Malkoun of Australia in their middleweight bout. Getty -
Phillip Hawes punches Jacob Malkoun. Getty -
Phillip Hawes celebrates his KO victory over Jacob Malkoun. Getty -
Phillip Hawes celebrates his KO victory over Jacob Malkoun. Getty -
Kazakhstan's Shavkat Rakhmonov on his way to victory over Alex Oliveira of Brazil in their welterweight bout. Getty -
Alex Oliveira lands a kick on Shavkat Rakhmonov. Getty -
American fighter Casey Kenney lands a punch and his way to victory over Nathaniel Wood of England in their catchweight bout. Getty -
Nathaniel Wood punches Casey Kenney. Getty -
Australian Tai Tuivasa lands a punch on Stefan Struve of the Netherlands on his way to victory in their heavyweight bout. Getty -
Stefan Struve lands a kick on Tai Tuivasa. Getty
