Conor McGregor has offered Khabib Nurmagomedov a rematch after the Russian hit out at his rival.
McGregor was choked out by Nurmagomedov in their grudge fight in 2018 and was denied a second shot when his adversary retired two years later. McGregor has not fought for 16 months and has won only one of his last four fights in the cage, a 40-second triumph over Donald Cerrone almost three years ago.
Nurmagomedov, however, has made a successful transition to coaching and can boast a stable including the UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and his cousin Usman won the same belt in Bellator last weekend. And in reflecting on those two fighters, Nurmagomedov took aim at McGregor, saying: "I hear long time ago when one guy was talking about, 'We're here to take over.' But we here to take over."
He was referring to McGregor's famous declaration in 2014 when he declared the Irish were "here to take over" following the Dubliner's win over Diego Brandao. And McGregor quickly took to social media to hit back at Nurmagomedov, writing: "I fight on! Your fathers plan is never complete because you quit and ran, brother.
"God bless. I’m still here if you want to go again. But your fear of defeat means you’ve already lost. Run from it all you want. We all lose in the end. Death takes us all. I fear nothing but God."
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McGregor has yet to confirm his return to the UFC having broken his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier last summer. The Irishman had hoped to fight this year but was hampered by a setback in his recovery before being cast in a remake of the film Road House.
He could face a further delay after it was revealed he has not been drug-tested by USADA for over 12 months, meaning he needs to be enrolled in the programme for six months before he can return to action. McGregor could apply for an exemption in order to return sooner but currently faces a wait until at least the end of May.
