Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager has mocked Conor McGregor by claiming the Russian "took his manhood" after the Irishman claimed MMA was "easy work".
McGregor has not fought in the UFC since July last year as he continues his recovery from a broken leg he suffered in a second consecutive loss to Dustin Poirier. His form has seen a significant decline in recent years having just one victory in his last four fights which included a defeat to bitter rival Nurmagomedov in 2018.
With his comeback yet to be officially announced, McGregor dropped a fresh hint at retirement, tweeting: MMA, I’ll never forget you! Easy work." Former rival Nurmagomedov's manager Ali Abdelaziz has fired back at McGregor on Twitter, replying: "Do you miss this man breathing all over you and taking your manhood away from you?"
Abdelaziz's latest jibe came with a video attached of the highlights from his client's historic 2018 meeting with McGregor, in which Nurmagomedov retained his title with a fourth-round submission victory. The MMA manager was heavily involved in one of the most heated rivalries in combat sports in the modern era.
McGregor infamously screamed in Abdelaziz's face during an initial fight week face-off before the event which captured the imagination of hardcore and casual UFC fans around the world. The bout became the UFC's second highest-selling pay-per-view in history and placed both Nurmagomedov and McGregor as two of the biggest stars in the promotion's history.
Nurmagomedov retired two years later as an undefeated champion, whereas McGregor is now looking to revive his career. However his latest retirement hint will not come as a surprise to some, with the Irishman now frequently seen out partying around Europe including in Ibiza.
Do you think Conor McGregor should retire from the UFC? Let us know in the comments section below
The Irishman is currently continuing to take a step-by-step journey to rehabilitation from his injury and has made a full return to MMA training recently with his coach John Kavanagh in his gym in Ireland. A whole host of options are expected to be on the table for McGregor which include a number of fights at 170lb, after the 34-year-old confirmed his intentions to return in a new weight class.
However Abdelaziz believes McGregor is now nothing more than an "Instagram fighter" and believes the star should retire. “ Conor McGregor is, like I said to somebody else earlier today... he’s rehabbing his injury. Nobody cares about Conor McGregor," Abdelaziz told The Schmo. "He has not won a fight since [Barack] Obama was a president. "He’s popular because he’s a Twitter fighter now. He’s an Instagram fighter.
"The last time he fought, did he show us he was worthy enough to fight for a UFC title? Listen to me. I understand the UFC business, but I know Dana White like the back of my hand. Dana White will never give Conor McGregor a title fight coming off three losses. I know him. And if he did, I’ll be f***ing shocked.”
