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I think we all knew former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion, Conor McGregor, would use this opportunity to take a swipe at longtime rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, I’m just surprised it took this long.
“Notorious” was on social media earlier today admonishing the quarantined “Eagle” for his part in the dissolution of the UFC 249 pay-per-view (PPV) main event, expected to take place on April 18 in a city and venue to be determined.
“The fact of this matter is, both Tony and Khabib where engaged in a game of chicken here towards the fight bell,” McGregor wrote on Twitter. “With Khabib chickening out first. Making it 3-2 in pullouts in Tony’s favor. Khabib scurried out of the U.S to home, and amid the crisis. Very high risk. Congrats Tony.”
Nurmagomedov, who was training at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, left the United States after California issued a shelter-in-place. He was shipped to United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the advice of UFC, but then Dubai was ruled out and the borders were shut down.
“I am in shape to fight right now,” McGregor continued. “At the beginning of all this, I said to myself – I’m happy I don’t have an official fight booked. If I did, I would have consumed all the incorrect data to support me taking part in the bout, and I would have followed through, competed. And won.”
McGregor was previously submitted by Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 back in late 2018.
The power-punching Irishman is expected to get the next 155-pound title shot; however, there’s no telling what’s going to happen to the Nurmagomedov-Ferguson match up now that “The Eagle” has withdrawn. Hopefully the promotion postpones the bout until the coronavirus pandemic subsides.
And for those fans who think “Notorious” might swoop in and save the day … don’t hold your breath.