Conor McGregor sends Khabib Nurmagomedov message
Conor McGregor has warned Khabib Nurmagomedov their rivalry is far from over and urged him to accept a rematch.
“This war is not over,” McGregor said during an appearance on The Tony Robbins Podcast.
“If this fight does not happen again, if it does not get reset, it’s on them. They’re running away. I’m here for the fight and here for the rematch.”
Conor McGregor criticises UFC 229 fight strategy
McGregor has seemingly taken aim at his coaches for the game plan they devised for his UFC grudge match with Nurmagomedov.
“My whole approach to that camp, the injuries, the non-commitment. Even the game-plan and the tactics we were [defensive],” he told Robbins. “I attack. I am an attacker. And my attack defends. And in this camp, for some reason, the entire focus was defend, defend, defend.
“So every round we would start in the training I would have my back against the fence, I would have my back against on the floor. I would always put myself in a vulnerable position.
“And as the camp went on, I just became defensive, defensive. And that’s never been what I do.
“It irritates me to this day because the training partners I had, I trained with heavy people, 90 plus kilograms.”
Conor McGregor called out by Justin Gaethje
Former World Series of Fighting lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, the No.5 ranked fighter in the 155lb division, has called out McGregor.
“I’m ranked No. 5 right now,” Gaethje told ESPN. “There are four guys and the champion in front of me. I’m looking for one of those guys, and I’m looking for a big fight this summer.
“I don’t want to fight guys ranked behind me. I’ve got two knockouts in a row. James Vick was ranked behind me. I feel I deserve someone in front of me.
“Looking at the landscape, Conor McGregor is No. 3 right now. If it’s not him, there’s not an open fight right now. So, that’s the fight I want.
“He’s No. 3. If he’s not going to fight, take him out of the rankings. I’d be cool with that, too, and we can move on from there.”