The rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor is escalating dangerously.
It’s been six months since Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Conor McGregor in the biggest-selling fight in UFC history, but their heated rivalry has somehow taken a nastier turn in recent days.
On Tuesday, McGregor posted and subsequently deleted insulting tweets towards Khabib Nurmagomedov’s wife and his brother. He then followed that up on Wednesday morning showing a picture of Khabib alongside Zubaira Tukhugov and Ruslan Magomedov, both of whom have failed USADA drug tests, with Magomedov recently getting a lifetime USADA ban for three offenses.
Wow another dagestani caught abusing steroids.
That’s 2 out of 3 in this picture busted for steroid abuse, with the most recent being busted 3 times in a row and now hit with a lifetime ban.
Excellent job @JeffNovitzkyUFC.
The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. pic.twitter.com/Lc9Ke0b8dp— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 3, 2019
Nurmagomedov, the UFC’s reigning lightweight champion, responded to McGregor’s tweets by outright accusing McGregor of being a rapist.
Rapist, you are Rapist.
You are a hypocrite who is not responsible for your actions. Justice will find you.
We will see.@TheNotoriousMMA pic.twitter.com/317rLK5TVN— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) April 3, 2019
This appears to be a reference to the recent New York Times report that McGregor was under investigation for an alleged sexual assault that took place at a Dublin hotel back in December. He was reportedly arrested and brought in for questioning but has not been charged.
It should be noted that the woman in the photo Khabib uploaded is part of a separate story that was published in UK tabloids, as she claims that McGregor is the father of her child and wants him to take a paternity test.
The former two-division champ McGregor claims to be retired (again), whereas Nurmagomedov recently revealed that a return to the Octagon is being targeted for September in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Both men are serving suspensions for their respective roles in the subsequent melee that occurred after their UFC 229 showdown. McGregor’s ban ends this week, whereas Khabib’s is set to be completed in July.