Khabib Wishes a Change in Conor McGregor’s Life
Mixed martial arts legend Khabib Nurmagomedov has expressed his wish for his former rival, Conor McGregor, to take a new direction in his life. Nurmagomedov, 36, defeated McGregor in one of the most intense rivalries in UFC history in 2018. The Russian fighter submitted McGregor with a rear naked choke, and then jumped out of the octagon to continue a fight with McGregor’s team. Nurmagomedov retired as undefeated champion in 2020. McGregor, with a record of 1-2 in the UFC after his fight with Nurmagomedov, has faced various legal problems, including a civil case of sexual assault in 2024.During a public intervention on Saturday in New York, Nurmagomedov stated that it is not too late for McGregor to modify his lifestyle. Nurmagomedov explained that McGregor’s change could positively influence other people. “If he is going to change, he can also change many other lives. That’s why I wish him to transform. If he doesn’t change, it will be a punishment all his life,” he added. These statements contrast with Nurmagomedov’s previous comments following his rivalry with McGregor, during which McGregor criticized Nurmagomedov’s personal life. In 2019, Nurmagomedov stated: “It will never end. Even if we see each other somewhere, we will fight, 100%. It doesn’t matter if someone goes to jail or something like that.” McGregor hasn’t fought since suffering a leg fracture in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. However, the 37-year-old fighter has recently rejoined the UFC’s mandatory testing pool, in preparation for a possible return.This is a punishment, but the most beautiful thing about this is that Allah always gives the opportunity to return. I think he has a chance. He has to change how he is living.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
