Conor McGregor's savage reaction to Khabib retirement confirmation

Conor McGregor couldn't resist a parting shot at Khabib Nurmagomedov after Dana White confirmed the UFC star's retirement on Thursday.

Five months after Khabib announced his days in the Octagon were over, the UFC has finally recognised his retirement.

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White had initially refused to accept Khabib’s announcement, made following a second-round submission of Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October.

He said he believed that Khabib was emotional about the death of his father and felt he’d reconsider.

But White announced that Khabib's retirement was official on Thursday.

"29-0 it is," White tweeted alongside a photo of Khabib.

"He is officially retired. It was incredible to watch you work @TeamKhabib.

"Thank you for EVERYTHING and enjoy whatever is next my friend."

Not one to miss the chance to take a shot at his great rival, McGregor responded in brutal fashion.

“Happy retirement kid, smell ya later," the Irishman wrote on Instagram.

“Never forget who came in the game and made ye. Straight from my big Irish balls.

“Remember folks, if you hate cutting weight so much, all you have to do is move up a division. God bless.”

Dana White defends trying to bring Khabib back

There were a number of big-money fights on the table for Khabib, and none bigger than a rematch with bitter rival and former champion McGregor.

White never believed that the lure of the big money would draw Khabib back, but felt his competitive spirit just might.

And so he pushed and prodded and cajoled and pleaded, not giving up until Thursday, a week shy of five full months of Khabib’s first declaration of retirement.

“I was just doing my job, doing what I should be doing,” White told Yahoo Sports several weeks ago about his pursuit of Khabib.

White told Yahoo Sports via text message on Thursday that the title is vacant and that Dustin Poirier, who defeated McGregor by TKO in January at UFC 257, is not the champion.

He confirmed an ESPN report that Michael Chandler will face Charles Oliveira for the vacant title at UFC 262 on May 15.

Whichever of those men wins it will have a monumental task living up to the standard that Khabib set.

He leaves the sport as the greatest active fighter, and he is neck-and-neck with former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones for the mantle of greatest fighter who ever lived.

with Kevin Iole - Yahoo Sports

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