UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov believes even his manager Ali Abdelaziz would be able to outclass Conor McGregor.
During the UFC 229 presser last week, Conor McGregor was in his usual form, putting everyone against him on blast. Apart from the incessant tirades thrown at upcoming opponent Khabib Nurmagomedov, “The Notorious” also had a brief encounter with fighter manager Ali Abdelaziz.
The two had a short exchange of words, which ended with McGregor calling Khabib’s manager a “snitch”, while also insinuating that he has some dirt to expose.
“Shut your mouth, Ali Abdelaziz,” McGregor said. “You terrorist snitch! I know a lot about you as well, you mad man. I know a lot about you as well! You keep your mouth shut kid! How’s Noah? How’s Noah? Yeah, shut your mouth! Never speak about me, ever in your life! Watch yourself around me, ‘cuz you’ll be out of here quick.”
“Don’t come at the king!”
On Monday’s episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on ESPN, Khabib spoke about the verbal spat between Abdelaziz and McGregor, ultimately stating that the Irishman should beware of whom he is barking at.
“I’m not politic, you know. I’m professional athlete,” Khabib said (transcript via MMAjunkie). “If he have problem with my manager, he can talk with him. He can fight with my manager, my manager 100 percent going to choke him – he’s a black belt from Renzo Gracie.”
Khabib will be defending his title for the first time against McGregor this Saturday at UFC 229 in Las Vegas.