Daniel Cormier isn’t interested in getting in the middle of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s intense rivalry with Conor McGregor.
Even long before their history-making clash at UFC 229, ‘The Eagle’ and the Irishman were constantly at odds. So much so that McGregor stormed a bus he believed Nurmagomedov was traveling in and launched a dolly into one of the windows, shattering the glass and injuring fighters who were on board—none of them being Nurmagomedov.
Of course, the undefeated Russian star handily defeated McGregor inside the Octagon in 2018 to retain his lightweight world title, but that was far from the end of their fierce rivalry. Nurmagomedov notoriously (no pun intended) hopped over the cage wall and went to war with McGregor’s cornermen—specifically Dillon Danis who was working as the Irish megastar’s BJJ coach at the time.
When Khabib finished Conor and jumped over the fence to fight his teammates.#KhabibNurmagomedov#ConorMcGregor #ufc229 #MMA #ESPN #UFC pic.twitter.com/FZAm1rVqE7
— (@i_StreetFighter) November 1, 2024
Nurmagomedov was fined $500,000 and suspended for nine months. McGregor was also fined and forced to pay $50,000 to the Nevada State Athletic Commission while serving a six-month suspension.
Six years later, the rivalry between McGregor and Nurmagomedov continues to rage on with ‘Mystic Mac’ regularly taking digs at the Dagestani and his assortment of current and future world champions under the Team Khabib banner.
And it is for that reason that Cormier, who is a very close friend of Nurmagomedov, is choosing to stay away from interviewing the Irishman. Well, that and the fact that ‘The Eagle’ once got mad at ‘DC’ for shaking McGregor’s hand and being cordial with the former two-division titleholder in Abu Dhabi.
“I saw Conor McGregor in Abu Dhabi, maybe when he was fighting Dustin Poirier,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “We were shaking hands, talking a little bit, and very kind of chumy. And Khabib was like, ‘Brother, I don’t understand this! If I see Conor with his wife, I’ll shake his hand, because that’s what you’re supposed to do. But brother…’
“And I initially kind of fought it, but look at the stance he’s taken in regards to everyone you deal with, why wouldn’t you take that same stance?”
Cormier continued, “I don’t try to request McGregor for interviews. I don’t think that I would get him but I’m just saying it’s not a request I make every time I’m there. But this like, part of the course for these dudes. Because honestly, Khabib’s not just a teammate. He’s family. And they’re like that with everyone and they feel like if someone’s in conflict, especially at the level that Jones and I.
“Jones and I were in conflict, they’re very stern in the side they pick. And it’s kind of refreshing because most people aren’t like that guys. They’re just not, especially us, as Americans. So, watching that, that wasn’t crazy for me. Dude, he really is the man. Khabib is the man. He’s got to be one of the most genuine humans I’ve ever met.”
— ً. (@C0MB4TT) November 6, 2024
Khabib Nurmagomedov Remains Retired While Conor McGregor Continues to Claim He’s Coming Back
Retiring after a third successful UFC lightweight title defense against Justin Gaethje in 2020, Nurmagomedov has remained adamant that he’s retired and staying that way despite Dana White and Co. making some pretty hefty offers.
Meanwhile, McGregor has insisted that his career is far from over despite not competing since a July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier. ‘Mac’ was scheduled to headline UFC 303 in June, but ultimately bowed out of the bout due to, of all things, a broken pinky toe. Since then, McGregor has insisted that he’ll compete in early 2025, but no official announcements have been made.
Fans, of course, are still skeptical about whether or not they’ll ever see him back inside the Octagon and often point to his party-hard persona as irrefutable evidence that his days of fighting are over.
Watch the full video below:
