Conor McGregor on Khabib withdrawal: “I am in shape to fight right now”
As is to be expected, Conor McGregor chimed in regarding Khabib Nurmagomedov’s withdrawal from UFC 249, taking jabs at his rival.
With the world in disarray due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s understandable that UFC 249 has become an event linked to disorder. The event was supposed to take place in Brooklyn, but now the event stands without an official location or main event. Reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov recently withdrew from his scheduled title bout with Tony Ferguson. He did this as he had travelled to his native Russia ahead of UFC 249, with the nation later implementing a travel ban.
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Now, in expectant manner, Conor McGregor laid into his arch rival Nurmagomedov, for pulling out of UFC 249.
“I am in shape to fight right now,” McGregor wrote in a post on Twitter. “At the beginning of all this, I said to myself – I’m happy I don’t have an official fight booked. If I did, I would have consumed all the incorrect data to support me taking part in the bout, and I would have followed through, competed. And won.
“The fact of this matter is, both Tony and Khabib where engaged in a game of chicken here towards the fight bell,” Conor McGregor added, commenting on UFC 249. “With Khabib chickening out first. Making it 3-2 in pullouts in Tony’s favour. Khab scurried out of the U.S to home, and amid the crisis. Very high risk. Congrats Tony.”
There certainly is no love lost between McGregor and Nurmagomedov. The two shared a contentious and hostile build up to their UFC 229 title bout that spilled into violence outside of the cage. The rivals have continued to fire shots at each other since their bout – Which Nurmagomedov won via fourth round submission.
As of now the fate of UFC 249 is uncertain. While Nurmagomedov is out, the UFC have offered Ferguson a bout with Justin Gaethje. However it is unclear as to if all parties have agreed to the fight and its terms.
