‘I think he is ducking tough matchups’: Conor McGregor accused by bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov of avoiding the best opponents
- Conor McGregor enjoyed a sensational return to UFC by beating Donald Cerrone
- McGregor is in talks to fight Justin Gaethje but he then wants rematch vs Khabib
- However, Khabib has since taken aim at his bitter UFC rival McGregor
- Khabib claims the Irishman is avoiding high-level opponents on his return
Khabib Nurmagomedov has accused his UFC enemy Conor McGregor of avoiding high-level opponents.
McGregor enjoyed a sensational return to the octagon last month by beating Donald Ceronne in 40 seconds at UFC 246 in Las Vegas, his first fight since losing to bitter rival Khabib in 2018.
McGregor is currently in talks to fight Justin Gaethje this summer but his long-term ambition is a rematch with Khabib – who is defending his lightweight champion belt against Tony Ferguson in April.
Khabib Nurmagomedov has accused Conor McGregor of avoiding the toughest opponents
However, Khabib claims if McGregor has goals of a rematch, he needs to prove himself against the very best again first.
‘”Cowboy” always loses all his main-event fights, always,’ he told TMZ. ‘I don’t remember when he won. In the last 10 fights, I think he’s lost six or seven times.
‘He’s not high-level lightweight or welterweight right now. He’s not. Of course, he has a big name but his time is finished.
McGregor enjoyed a stunning return to the octagon by beating Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds
‘Conor [needs to] pick very good opponent. Now he come back and beat “Cowboy,” who lost seven times in his last 10 fights, and then they talk about this guy coming back.
‘No, he has to fight really tough opponents like Justin Gaethje or something like this. He has to come back to lightweight division. He has to cut welterweight, and this is just my opinion.
‘I think he [is] just ducking tough matchups. Not only just Justin Gaethje, he’s just, “Who’s gonna to be my next fight? I need this fight.”‘