Even in 2025, there is no bigger star in MMA than Conor McGregor. However, the Irishman’s latest combat venture has put the community on notice. For the unversed, ‘Mystic Mac’ is rumored to feature in a boxing exhibition against social media sensation and WWE superstar Logan Paul. This has led people to believe that McGregor’s legitimacy in MMA could die down. However, the coach of his former arch-nemesis refutes that notion.

During the real boom period of the UFC in the mid-2010s, ‘The Notorious’ was the face of the promotion, and that has made him a brand, according to Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s former coach, Javier Mendez. However, he’s still waiting to see if the bout against Paul takes place, given that the former UFC god-king has made a gobsmacking $250 million payout claim. Also, if we take a look at some of McGregor’s past plans, they never came to fruition.

“First of all, let’s see if the fight is to happen. Second of all, how’s it gonna hurt his MMA brand? He’s not an MMA brand, he’s a brand, period,” the AKA head honcho stated on his YouTube podcast. Mendez also opined on the recent legal issues that McGregor got embroiled in. Despite what transpired, people are still going to pay to see him because of his superstar status.

“He’s already a brand, you know. What he’s done already, what he screwed himself on, what he got caught for, what he got the civil suit against him, so you know, he’s still Conor McGregor, no matter which way you look at it,” Mendez further continued. “How you hate him or love him, he’s a brand… Look at the numbers the guy’s done. I don’t care for him, but you can’t deny what he’s done, you know.”

It’s well-documented that Nurmagomedov and McGregor detest each other. And the same goes for their camps as well. However, Javier Mendez still gave the Irishman his props while making a surprising claim. Let’s see what he had to say!

Team Khabib claims Conor McGregor is one of the ‘greats’

The rivalry between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor is perhaps the most heated one in UFC history. When they fought at UFC 229, ‘The Eagle’ wanted a real fight. This was owing to how much trash talk had come from McGregor’s end, which he later claimed he didn’t get. But despite all the drama and the beef and that one-sided fight between the two lightweight stars, Javier Mendez acknowledged his greatness after putting aside his personal feelings, seeing how much McGregor has done for the sport.

“Just because I don’t care for him doesn’t mean I’m going to deny how great he is and how much people love the guy and how much people hate him,” Mendez added. “I happen to be not the one to hate him, but I happen to be one who doesn’t particularly care for him, but you can’t deny what he can do… He’s a star.”

There is a lot of doubt surrounding the fight between Conor McGregor and Logan Paul, given that the latter has chosen to stay quiet on the matter. Rather, Paul claims to have become a full-time WWE Superstar. What do you think about the chances of that fight happening? Even more so, do you agree with Javier Mendez? Let us know in the comments down below.