Make or break: Conor McGregor might have to bounce to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s tune if he’s to rematch the UFC light-weight champion

Conor McGregor has fervently sought a rematch with heated rival Khabib Nurmagomedov. However because the Russian champion calls for one thing “spectacular” this weekend to tempt him out of retirement, McGregor faces a make-or-break second.

For a fighter who self-declares as “Mystic Mac”, one suspects that Conor McGregor does not admire it when his soothsaying predictions are off the mark. 

His 2018 title problem towards Khabib Nurmagomedov, a struggle borne out of a heated private rivalry and prison mischief expenses inside a Brooklyn parking zone, actually did not go to script.

McGregor, as is his wont, predicted that his notorious left hand would ship to Khabib the identical outcome as many earlier than him: unconsciousness, or on the very least an lack of ability to proceed.

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In actuality, it was the Irishman who was dropped by a Khabib overhand and summarily submitted within the fourth spherical. The pre-fight rancor was greater than matched by the actions of Nurmagomedov and members of his group, marking the UFC 229 principal occasion as probably the most infamous within the firm’s greater than quarter-century historical past.

Whereas the incident initially left a foul style within the mouth of UFC president Dana White, that was rapidly changed by the promise of filthy lucre. There isn’t a larger struggle attainable in combined martial arts than a McGregor-Khahib rematch, and everybody concerned is aware of it.

Khabib, although, appears blissful to solely vaguely deal with the difficulty of his future. Nonetheless technically retired, Dana White quoted him as saying he may very well be satisfied to return if somebody on this weekend’s light-weight fights places on a “spectacular” efficiency.

It was a transfer that some say was directed largely at McGregor – a kind of “You need this? Show it” sort of gesture.

Maybe the trump card up Khabib’s sleeve is that he has forged himself able of being the prize. McGregor, together with the three different fighters concerned on this weekend’s principal and co-main occasions, aren’t simply preventing for the sake of competitors. Nor will or not it’s solely for his or her struggle purses.

In McGregor’s case, the chance to rematch Nurmagomedov is much extra engaging than the struggle purse he’ll obtain for his efforts this Saturday.

He has made his cash, the Forbes Wealthy Listing assures us of that. He has set his legacy, as mirrored by his pay-per-view numbers.

As a substitute, the Dubliner is motivated by good old school revenge – the identical overwhelming emotion he had when he demanded that the UFC “run it again” after he surprisingly misplaced to Nate Diaz in early 2016. 

Some months later, McGregor gained the sequel.

That’s the reason this weekend’s struggle towards Dustin Poirier is so necessary for McGregor. He has promised that it might be attainable to defeat the harmful Poirier in simply 60 seconds, however has additionally advised that he would welcome an extended, drawn-out “warfare” between the 2 males.

It stays to be seen which of those two choices Khabib would possibly doubtlessly desire, however it’s fascinating to see the affect that even a retired Khabib Nurmagomedov can have on the summit of the UFC’s light-weight body. 

If he needs the rematch, McGregor might have to bounce to Khabib’s tune – and when have we ever stated something like that in regards to the fighter finest identified for calling his personal pictures?

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