Conor McGregor, a former UFC two-division champion who never defended either the featherweight or lightweight title while he held them years ago, can’t believe that Khabib Nurmagomedov, who’s defended the 155-pound title three times en route to a perfect 29-0 record, would walk away from MMA at this point in his career.

He simply won’t stop calling him out on it.

Also, McGregor insists Khabib is afraid of him even though Khabib dominated their October 2018 title fight and made McGregor quit to a neck crank.

“I think he’s afraid to fight me, that’s for damn sure, and I don’t blame him,” McGregor told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani with a straight face. “I fought the best of him on that night; he fought the worst of me on that night. He knows it, I know it, his team knows it. I have the answer to destroy that man. He can pull the wool over people’s eyes for only so long. It is what it is.”

When asked if he thought Khabib retired last October specifically because he didn’t want a rematch, McGregor – who fights Dustin Poirier next week at UFC 257 – didn’t just agree. He added that Khabib is avoiding a long list of potential contenders.

“Yes, I would say so. I think his hand was shown. He’s not a true fighter in my opinion,” McGregor said. “How could you walk away? There’s so many great fights to be had. Think of the Diazes, the Fergusons, there’s so many wild fights, the Oliveiras, the rematch against me. I think it’s just preposterous to walk away. Not only did he sh*t on the bus, I think he pissed on the chips also. I think he showed his hand.”

What?

Conor McGregor submits to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. (Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports)

This is the same guy who pushed UFC president Dana White to book him against Diego freaking Sanchez just last year when all three of those guys he accused Khabib of ducking – Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson and Charles Oliveira – would’ve gladly taken a fight with McGregor at any point in 2020.

That’s rich.

Ever since UFC 229, McGregor has made excuse after excuse for losing to Khabib. He’s repeatedly called for a rematch and acted like he’s owed one, even though he never did the same for Jose Aldo, the greatest featherweight of all time, after he knocked him out in 2015.

The hypocrisy is thick.

Would Khabib vs. McGregor 2 sell big? Of course, that’s why White wants it so badly. But Khabib, whose retirement was the result of a promise to his mother, has always struck us as a man of principle. If his retirement doesn’t stick, there’s no reason to believe any MMA retirements moving forward. And if Khabib decides to fight again, it’s unlikely to be McGregor who lures him back.

Beat him already – easily. Nothing McGregor says can ever change that.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

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