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Conor McGregor Wages Keyboard War on Paul Hughes
Conor McGregor, never one to shy away from a public feud, finds himself embroiled in yet another conflict, this time with fellow Irishman Paul Hughes. The war of words erupted following Hughes’s spirited performance against lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov this past Saturday at UFC Dubai.
Hughes narrowly lost a majority decision in a fight that left many, including McGregor, initially praising him as the rightful winner. However, the camaraderie was short-lived, as post-fight comments from Hughes seemingly struck a nerve with McGregor, igniting an online battle that has since captivated the MMA community.
A Spark Lit by Post-Fight Comments
The animosity began after a clip surfaced from Anatomy of a Fighter, where Hughes was seen conversing with McGregor’s longtime rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov. During the exchange, Hughes remarked, “I’m not like this other guy. I’m my own man,” a comment many interpreted as a veiled jab at McGregor. The former two-division UFC champion wasted no time in retaliating on social media.
“Too right, you’re not,” McGregor wrote in a now-deleted post, followed by a series of escalating insults. In a particularly incendiary comment, McGregor attacked Hughes’s Northern Irish heritage, saying, “Get that flag off you, you little know-what-you-are c*nt from up there.” While these remarks were quickly removed, the damage was done.
Paul Hughes Fires Back with Poise
On Wednesday, Hughes responded to McGregor’s tirade, striking a balance between reverence and reproach.
“[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.”
Hughes’s measured response earned him widespread support from fans and fighters alike, as many questioned McGregor’s state of mind amidst his increasingly erratic online behavior.
Khabib Nurmagomedov Weighs In
Adding fuel to the fire, Khabib Nurmagomedov took to Instagram to back Hughes. In a pointed message, Khabib referred to McGregor as a “rapist and drug addict” while praising Hughes as a “real Irishman.” This public endorsement further solidified Hughes’s position in the eyes of many fans and reignited discussions about McGregor’s longstanding feud with the Nurmagomedov family.
The bad blood between McGregor and Khabib dates back to their infamous clash at UFC 229 in October 2018, a fight that ended with Khabib submitting McGregor in the fourth round and chaos erupting afterward. Although Khabib retired in 2020, the rivalry has remained alive through social media jabs and interviews.
The Bigger Picture
While McGregor continues to make headlines for his outbursts, Hughes has gained newfound respect within the MMA community. Despite his loss to Usman Nurmagomedov, Hughes’s performance earned him an invitation from Khabib to train in Dagestan, an opportunity Hughes is open to—but only after securing a rematch with Usman.
For McGregor, the incident is the latest in a series of controversies that have overshadowed his fighting career. Since his last bout at UFC 264 in July 2021, McGregor has faced legal troubles, including civil suits tied to sexual assault allegations. Meanwhile, his return to the Octagon remains uncertain, with fans and pundits alike questioning whether the former champion will ever recapture his past glory.
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The clash between McGregor and Hughes highlights the contrasting paths of two Irish fighters. On one side is McGregor, whose legacy as a fighter is increasingly overshadowed by his off-cage antics. On the other is Hughes, a rising star navigating the pressures of a high-profile career with a poise that many find refreshing.
Whether this feud fizzles out or escalates further, one thing is clear: McGregor’s penchant for stirring the pot ensures he’ll remain a polarizing figure in the world of MMA, even as new stars like Hughes emerge to challenge the spotlight.
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