Midway through their UFC 229 main event, Khabib Nurmagomedov was slamming Conor McGregor with brutal ground and pound, all while screaming “let’s talk now!” as retribution for months of smack talk. Although he seems to deny this now, the badly beaten Irishman was also heard saying the now infamous line “it’s only business,” in between rounds.
A post-fight brawl also ensued shortly after Khabib got the submission finish, with the lightweight champion later admitting that he wasn’t happy about McGregor dragging in his religion, country and even his family during the trash talk and “marketing” for the contest.
Fast forward to Tuesday night, and McGregor decided to cross that line once again. Instead of focusing his insults on the fighter he wants to face, McGregor brought up Khabib’s wife and family on social media.
The tweets were deleted eventually, but it already made the rounds online.
The sole tweet about Khabib left on McGregor’s profile is one where he asked for a rematch.
Don’t be scared of the rematch you little scurrying rat.
You will do what you are told like you always do.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 3, 2019
Whether it’s his management who felt he had gone too far and deleted the tweets, or McGregor realizing it himself, insulting Khabib’s wife and crossing cultural and religious lines definitely isn’t a good look for the former champion.
I understand the need for “fight promotion,” but there are obviously much better and more creative ways to approach that.
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