TLDR
- Conor McGregor will fight Max Holloway on Saturday at UFC 329, his first fight in five years
- McGregor dismissed retired rival Khabib Nurmagomedov’s achievements, saying he ‘done nothing in the sport’
- McGregor blamed a two-year layoff, legal issues, and a broken toe for his 2018 submission loss to Nurmagomedov
- Nurmagomedov retired undefeated at 29-0 in 2020 following his father’s death
- McGregor returns after breaking his leg in 2021 and serving an 18-month ban for drug-test whereabouts failures
Sources: independent.co.uk | timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Conor McGregor has reignited his feud with former rival Khabib Nurmagomedov just days before his return to fighting, claiming he does not rate the retired champion despite losing to him in 2018.
McGregor will fight for the first time in five years on Saturday when he faces Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The bout marks his comeback from a broken leg suffered in a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier.
In a recent interview with Complex, McGregor dismissed Nurmagomedov’s achievements in the UFC. “Come on, the guy’s done nothing in the sport,” McGregor said. “Thirteen fights he’s had in the company, that’s it, and three against named opponents.”
The Irish fighter defended his 2018 submission loss at UFC 229, which remains the highest-grossing UFC fight of all time. McGregor said he entered that fight after a two-year layoff and was dealing with legal issues and partying heavily.
“I hadn’t fought in two years, I was worth 200 million,” McGregor said. He also claimed he broke his foot three weeks before the bout and fought with a broken toe.
Conor McGregor on Khabib: ‘The Guy Done Nothing in the Sport. No Courage#UFC #UFC329https://t.co/v57c8GhiqR
— Suplex MMA 👊 (@Suplex_MMA) July 9, 2026
McGregor Questions Nurmagomedov’s Record
McGregor criticized Nurmagomedov for retiring in 2020 at age 32, calling him a fighter with “no courage” who “succumbed to his pain.” Nurmagomedov retired following the death of his father, who served as his head coach throughout his career.
The comments contain factual errors about Nurmagomedov’s fighting record. McGregor questioned how many knockouts the Russian fighter had, suggesting “three or four.” In reality, Nurmagomedov recorded eight KO/TKO wins, 11 submissions, and 10 decisions during his professional career.
Nurmagomedov retired with a perfect 29-0 record and successfully defended the UFC lightweight title three times. He submitted McGregor in the fourth round of their 2018 fight.
The rivalry between the two fighters was marked by personal attacks. McGregor insulted Nurmagomedov’s religious beliefs before their fight, creating a bitter atmosphere that lasted beyond the octagon.
McGregor’s Return After Multiple Setbacks
McGregor, who turns 38 next week, has not fought since breaking his leg in July 2021. His return was further delayed when he recorded three drug-test whereabouts failures in 2024.
He received an 18-month ban that was announced in October 2025 but backdated to September 2024. This made him eligible to return in March 2025.
Conor McGregor Trains Takedowns Ahead of Max Holloway Rematch at UFC 329
In 2024, a civil jury found that McGregor had raped a woman in Dublin in 2018. McGregor denies all allegations and appealed the verdict, but the appeal was unsuccessful.
Saturday’s fight against Holloway will take place at welterweight, 13 years after McGregor outpointed Holloway in their first meeting. Holloway typically fights at featherweight but agreed to move up in weight for the bout.
Nurmagomedov has shown no interest in coming out of retirement. Since stepping away from competition, he has focused on coaching and mentoring fighters from his training team.
McGregor has stated he plans to remain active after UFC 329 and still has fights remaining on his current UFC contract. The fight against Holloway is scheduled for July 11, 2026.
