Yahoo Sports Conor McGregor thinks he won 'real fight' against Khabib, still wants rematch: 'This war is not over'
Conor McGregor isn’t doing any fighting right now, but he’s doing a whole lot of talking. The MMA star sat down for an in-depth interview with self-help guru Tony Robbins and gave everyone a peek into how Conor’s brain works.
Still reading after being told you’re about to get a dose of uncut, pharmaceutical-grade McGregor? Congratulations! And get ready.
McGregor thinks he won ‘real fight’ against Khabib
In the interview, which was recorded in early April, Robbins and McGregor got down to the nitty-gritty of McGregor’s October 2018 Khabib Nurmagomedov fight, which he lost in the fourth round via submission. Well, actually he mostly talked about the post-fight melee that was started by Khabib. McGregor called that the “real fight,” which he feels he won.
He spent time talking up his awareness during the brawl, how Khabib “scurried” away after the initial attack, how members of Khabib’s team came after him, and how he managed to defeat them. In other words? He found the perfect way to reshape the narrative around the whole incident. Via MMAJunkie:
“As I jumped on top of the cage, [Khabib’s] brother came sprinting across and jumped up on top of the cage … to climb in and help him and join the fight. I seen him there. It was like a Christmas present. [...]
As he threw that right hand, I threw a left hand. Boom! There’s an image, an aerial image, of the right hand just whipping by my face and my left hand just landing flush down the pipe! The final blow of the night! So that’s it. I win.”
McGregor sure has spent a lot of time thinking about the minute details of this post-fight brawl that he spent weeks provoking. But despite what he feels, it wasn’t the “real fight.” He lost the actual fight! There wasn’t time to examine that, though. This interview, like every interview he gives, was about presenting Conor McGregor as a hero to be lauded by all.
Ready for some rematches
McGregor suddenly retired in late March, and then just days later maybe, possibly un-retired. It’s not entirely clear, because McGregor hasn’t scheduled any fights to signal that he’s not actually retired. But he certainly talked a good game about rematches. While still congratulating himself on his spiritual “defeat” of Khabib and his team in the post-UFC 229 melee, McGregor challenged Khabib to a rematch by essentially calling him a coward. Via ESPN:
"At the end of the day, I landed the final blow of the night, right on his brother's eye socket. Although the match didn't go my way, the fight went my way. And trust me when I tell you, Tony, this war is not over. If this fight does not happen again, if it does not get reset, it's on them. They're running away. I'm here for the fight and here for the rematch."
Since Khabib won the actual fight, he has no reason to fight McGregor again. But maybe calling him a coward will work! I’m sure Khabib will pick up the phone immediately and demand a fight be scheduled. Sure.
McGregor wasn’t done with the rematch talk, though. He also wants another shot at Floyd Mayweather in the boxing ring. Via TMZ:
"I would like to rematch him under boxing rules, again ... and I believe I would win. Actually, there I go again with that fake humbleness ... I KNOW I WOULD WIN!"
Lots of talk, no fighting
McGregor hasn’t stepped into the octagon since October 2018 when he lost to Khabib. He doesn’t have any other fights scheduled, and in the months since the Khabib fight he’s retired and maybe possibly un-retired. McGregor may be one of the most successful MMA fighters of all time, but he’s been doing a lot of talking and absolutely no fighting lately. And for all his talk, he doesn’t seem too keen on actually fighting again.
He certainly doesn’t have to fight. But if he chooses to keep talking about his spiritual (if not actual) victories and wanting rematches, eventually he’ll have to put his money where his mouth is and make good on what he’s said.
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