Khabib and McGregor won’t let go of their ‘deep-rooted’ hatred

Daniel Cormier doesn’t expect the rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor to ever end.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) never misses an opportunity to take aim at Nurmagomedov, most recently ridiculing former U.S. President Donald Trump for choosing “The Eagle” as his favorite fighter.

Nurmagomedov has been retired since October 2020, and his fight against McGregor in October 2018 is the highest-selling PPV in UFC history. Nurmagomedov’s protégé, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, is ready to make history by defending his belt against McGregor, if “The Notorious” can emerge victorious in his anticipated return against Michael Chandler.

“He hates Khabib,” Cormier said on his “Funky and the Champ” show with Ben Askren. “He hates him. … They don’t let go. It’s deep-rooted, but it’s deep-rooted on both sides, honestly. (Nuragomedov) doesn’t like this guy, man. They don’t like each other. It’s crazy. It’s really crazy. It’s deep. It’s very deep.”

“But I think the closest thing we could get to solving that would be, again, Conor beating Michael and then getting a championship fight against Islam Makhachev, right? Khabib could then probably try to find some solace in that and Conor could try to find some redemption in trying to beat the guy who became the guy, right? So there’s some story there. I don’t know if that’s happening because Michael Chandler can’t get a date (with McGregor).”

McGregor was scheduled to face Chandler at UFC 303 in June, but was forced to withdraw due to a broken toe. He hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.