The consensus seems to be that Khabib Nurmagomedov didn’t have too much difficulty defeating Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in October, 2018. But, according to McGregor, the undefeated lightweight champ is scared and then some, about the possibility of fighting him again.

McGregor claims Nurmagomedov is “trembling” about rematch

Ever since McGregor was submitted by Khabib, the brash star has called for a rematch with the vaunted grappler. The former lightweight champ has repeatedly argued that a second fight would go differently, and he’s also cited a foot injury he incurred in camp, as to why. Khabib, meanwhile, has continued to say that McGregor needs to win multiple fights, before he deserves a rematch. McGregor’s last win took place in 2016 when he took the 155 belt from Eddie Alvarez.

Well, as McGregor continues to get ready for his January 18th fight with Donald Cerrone, he spoke with his own company, The MacLife. When the subject of a rematch with Khabib came up, the Irish fighter said this (quotes via MMA Fighting):

“He is trembling. That man is trembling,” McGregor said. “He doesn’t want it. He doesn’t want it. You get it and he’s trying not to lose it again. I just smell sh*t. That’s all it is. He’s afraid and that’s it.

“But everyone wants it. The boss wants it, Dana [White] wants it, we all want it. So he can run but he cannot hide. I look forward to it.”

“In my mind, round 1, I won round 1. I outstruck him 3-to-1,” McGregor said. “He had position on the mat but I outstruck him 3-to-1. What did he do in that first round? Second round, look at the lackadaisical approach I had, he was just running around the outside of the cage and he caught that lucky shot and he had a great second round. What happened after that? I win the third round.

“Even the opening exchanges in the fourth round. I was winning the fourth round up until that trip.”

Is Khabib really “afraid”?

So is Nurmagomedov really afraid to fight Conor again? A man who has gone 28-0 to date in pro-MMA and has dominated most of the opponents he’s faced? A champ who went out of his way to call for a fight with Tony Ferguson, who is one of the most dangerous lightweights on the planet? It seems kind of unlikely right?

What’s more likely is that Khabib might think he has far more to lose, than to gain, by facing McGregor one more time. After all, he already beat McGregor, and he’s repeatedly said he doesn’t need the money. If Khabib defeats Conor for a second time, it doesn’t do that much more for his legacy. Compared to if say, he defeats Georges St-Pierre, after beating Tony Ferguson. That could propel him into greatest of all time territory.

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