[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] wasted no time in wishing longtime rival [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] well after the UFC lightweight champion announced his retirement Saturday at UFC 254.
Taking to Twitter moments after the conclusion of the pay-per-view broadcast, McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) sent a message to Nurmagomedov (29-0 MMA, 13-0 UFC) from “The McGregors.”
“Good performance @TeamKhabib,” McGregor wrote. “I will carry on. Respect and condolences on your father again also. To you and (your) family. Yours sincerely, The McGregors.”
Following his second-round technical submission victory Saturday over Justin Gaethje, Nurmagomedov took off his gloves inside the cage. Speaking into Jon Anik’s microphone, Nurmagomedov announced the fight would be his last.
“Today I want to say it was my last fight. No way I’m gonna come here without my father,” Nurmagomedov said. “It was first time after what happened with my father. When UFC called me with Justin, I talked with my mother three days. She don’t (want me) to go fight without father, but I promised her it’s gonna be my last fight. And if I give my word, I have to follow this.”
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McGregor and Nurmagomedov competed once against each other – at UFC 229 in October 2018. After a heated buildup, which included McGregor throwing a dolly through a bus window, Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor via rear-naked choke in Round 4. Following the finish, Nurmagomedov leaped out of the cage and onto McGregor’s cornermen. The move resulted in an all-out brawl.
The bad blood didn’t end there. McGregor and Nurmagomedov exchanged words on social media and in interviews in the months that followed, though McGregor issued a respectful statement after the death of Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, in July.
McGregor is expected to take on Dustin Poirier in January, though no contracts have been signed.
Check out McGregor’s tweet below:
Good performance @TeamKhabib.
I will carry on.
Respect and condolences on your father again also. To you and family.
Yours sincerely, The McGregors.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 24, 2020
UFC 254 took place Saturday at Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The main card streamed on pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN 2/ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass.
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