Yesterday, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov made headlines while promoting his cousin Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov’s upcoming title defense against Irish MMA star Paul Hughes under the PFL banner. During an interview with PFL’s social channel, ‘The Eagle’ said, “Brother, Ireland doesn’t have fighters, brother. Let’s be honest. How many fighters do you know from Ireland? Paul Hughes and Conor [McGregor]. And who else? There are no fighters, brother.”

This remark triggered a wave of anger, particularly from Irish fans and Paul Hughes, with many criticizing the 29-0 legend for his comments. The drama escalated when UFC megastar Conor McGregor, who had been relatively silent, jumped into the fray. The Irishman quickly lambasted his arch-nemesis on X with a series of sharp tweets and wrote, “And all yous a–lickers around the way years stood on no ground for your own. Sickening stuff, look at yous now. You deserve exactly what’s there for yous, not a thing.”

The back-and-forth didn’t stop there. Team Khabib’s manager and close friend, Ali Abdelaziz, who also has a history of conflict with McGregor, fired back. He reminded ‘The Notorious’ of his devastating loss at UFC 229 and said, “You were never the same after he beat your ass. He’s in your head for the rest of your life.”

The Irishman and Nurmagomedov have had a complicated history that once involved mutual respect. However, their relationship deteriorated over time, evolving into a heated rivalry that reached a boiling point during the infamous bus attack on UFC 223 media day. But it’s not just Nurmagomedov, who has tensions with McGregor. Ali Abdelaziz has also become a prominent figure in the drama, frequently stepping in to address controversies on behalf of ‘The Eagle’, who tends to avoid engaging in social media feuds.

The upcoming PFL fight between Usman Nurmagomedov and Paul Hughes, scheduled for January 25 in the UAE would be a repeat of the famous ‘Ireland vs. Dagestan’ narrative. Amidst the chaos, a close friend of Khamzat Chimaev has recently expressed their frustration with ‘The Eagle’, adding more fuel to the already heated tensions in the MMA world.

Darren Till responds to Khabib Nurmagomedov over Ireland MMA controversy

In the ongoing debate surrounding Ireland’s MMA scene, British Liverpool native Darren Till has weighed in to correct Khabib Nurmagomedov’s recent comments regarding Ireland’s place in combat sports. Till recently posted a powerful rebuttal on X, challenging Khabib Nurmagomedov’s statement. He pointed out that, despite Ireland’s small size compared to Russia, it produces more fighters.

He tweeted, “I’ve always respected Khabib and his team a lot, they are fantastic fighters. But for him to sit there and say fighters from Ireland are low level in comparison of sizes of countries and production, Ireland is actually way ahead. Ireland is so f–ing small, and Russia is so f–ing big. Ireland has produced amazing fighters over the years.”

Till’s response is particularly significant when considering Ireland’s overall track record, not just in MMA but also in boxing. At the 2024 Olympics, Ireland achieved its highest-ever number of gold medals in a single edition, securing four golds in sports like boxing, rowing, and gymnastics. Boxing, in particular, has long been a dominant sport in Ireland.

With emerging stars like Ian Garry already making waves in the UFC, Irish athletes are increasingly proving their mettle in MMA as well. What do you think of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s comments about Ireland’s MMA scene? Is it fair to compare Ireland’s relatively small presence in the sport to Russia’s dominance, as Darren Till suggests? Do you believe ‘The Eagle’ spoke out of turn in his attempt to promote his cousin’s upcoming MMA title defense? Share your thoughts below.