Conor McGregor Rips Paul Hughes for Post-Fight Exchange with Khabib Nurmagomedov
🇮🇪🤔 Paul Hughes tells Khabib (referring to Conor Mcgregor):
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) January 29, 2025
"I am not like this other guy. I am my own man."
🎥 @WillHarrisAOAF pic.twitter.com/bjJIkhgbyS
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Hughes squared off against Usman Nurmagomedov in the PFL Road to Dubai main event last Saturday, losing a closely-contested majority decision in a widely-praised lightweight title clash. In a video captured by Anatomy of a Fighter, Hughes appears to refer to McGregor while speaking with Khabib, who was in his cousin’s corner for the bout.
“I’m not like this other guy,” Hughes says. “I’m my own man.”
Shortly after the bout, McGregor praised Hughes’ performance, claiming that his countryman “dominated the fight” while trashing the Nurmagomedovs in a since-deleted post. The former UFC champion apparently changed his tune after becoming aware of the latest video.
“Too right. You’re not,” McGregor wrote on X. “Get that flag off you, you little know what you are c—t from up there.”
Conor McGregor is not best pleased with Paul Hughes’ words about him following his #PFL fight with Usman Nurmagomedov 😬 pic.twitter.com/SbJXLlHHFV
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) January 29, 2025
In typical fashion, McGregor deleted his latest series of posts, as well. However, that didn’t prevent Hughes from responding.
“[McGregor], always said you were the GOAT, paid homage at every opportunity,” Hughes wrote. “But coming at my Irish identity just shows where your head is at.”
@TheNotoriousMMA always said u were the goat, payed homage at every opportunity.
— Paul Hughes MMA (@paulhughesmma) January 29, 2025
But coming at my Irish identity just shows where your head is at.
McGregor has a long history of feuding with Khabib and his family, which dates back to their championship fight at UFC 229 in 2018. McGregor repeatedly insulted Khabib leading up to their bout, and though he lost via fourth-round submission, the “Notorious” has continued to take shots at his Dagestani rival over the years.
Khabib has already invited Hughes to train with his team in Dagestan. The Irishman expressed interest in the offer, but he would prefer to get a rematch with Usman before accepting the invitation. Meanwhile, Khabib responded to McGregor on his Instagram stories after the Dublin native’s latest tirade.
“You are a real Irishman Paul Hughes, and not a rapist and drug addict like this bastard [Conor McGregor,” Khabib wrote.
Khabib Nurmagomedov via his Instagram story:
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 29, 2025
“You are a real Irishman Paul Hughes, and not a r*pist and drug addict like this bastard [Conor McGregor].” 😳#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/d9MyrjQ2pD
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