It doesn’t sound like reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, was inordinately surprised to learn longtime rival, Conor McGregor, retired from mixed martial arts (MMA).
Nurmagomedov submitted the “Notorious” Irishman in the UFC 229 main event last October and told fans before, during, and after their championship showdown that McGregor was a chicken who liked to quit when things didn’t go his way.
McGregor’s hasty departure on Tuesday did little to refute that claim.
If today’s retirement announcement was sincere and not another negotiating tactic like the one he used back in 2016, then Nurmagomedov will undoubtedly be moving on to face the winner of Dustin Poirier vs. Max Holloway, who collide at UFC 236 for the interim lightweight title.
It also clears a path for top contenders Tony Ferguson and Al Iaquinta, depending on what the next few months bring for each fighter. “El Cucuy” is dealing with some personal problems while “Ragin’ Al” needs to dispose of Donald Cerrone to keep his place in the Top 5 of the division.
Still lots of pieces to this lightweight puzzle.