“I’ve never had any disagreement with Jones. He is a great fighter, and it’s hard to compare with him. But my friend Cormier has issues with him, and because of that, he cannot be my friend. I don’t make friends with people my friends aren’t friends with,” Khabib Nurmagomedov explained during an interview with Bloody Elbow. He elaborated on why he couldn’t befriend Jon Jones, whose ongoing rivalry with Daniel Cormier, a key member of ‘Team Khabib,’ prevented any chance of forming a connection.

This is deeply rooted in the strong Dagestani code of brotherhood, which emphasizes loyalty and unity within the team. Recently, the concept of this bond resurfaced when Hasbulla, a close friend of ‘Team Khabib’ and a popular Russian internet personality known as ‘Mini Khabib,’ took aim at Conor McGregor. Hasbulla posted an edited picture from the infamous UFC 229 fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, showing ‘The Notorious’ sitting defeated after a rear-naked choke.

In the edited image, Hasbulla inserted himself alongside a defeated Conor McGregor, with the caption: “Khabib took your soul, I will take the rest.” Standing at 3 feet 4 inches, Hasbulla is a close friend of both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. Consequently, the trio is frequently seen together at UFC events, especially those taking place in the Middle East, where Hasbulla’s presence often becomes the center of attention.

Moreover, their bond was notably showcased in 2022 when Hasbulla humorously accused Khabib Nurmagomedov of cheating during a friendly football match at Islam Makhachev’s camp. Playfully asking, “Did you pay the referee? How much did you pay him?” ‘The Eagle’ responded, “Don’t judge people by yourself. If you walk in with Rolexes and buy people, we are not like that.” This was also around the time the beef between Conor McGregor and Hasbulla began.

Throwback: When Conor McGregor and Hasbulla engaged in a war of words

In 2022, 3ft 4in internet sensation Hasbulla made waves when he joined forces with 7ft NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and UFC former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski for a playful video that quickly went viral. The video caught the attention of UFC megastar Conor McGregor, who was aware of Hasbulla’s close ties with Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘The Notorious’ didn’t hesitate to target the Russian internet personality, taking to social media with a provocative message: “I’d love to boot that little g*** Hasbulla over a goal post. How much to get him on the volley? Little smelly inbred.”

However, Hasbulla didn’t back down and immediately fired back at the former two-division champion: “I don’t follow bums… didn’t realize someone was running their mouth. @ me next time, Conor McGregor,” Hasbulla tweeted. “At least one of us kept an undefeated record. Hasbulla 1, McGregor 0. I’ve got my UFC contract now. If Conor McGregor is really a man, let’s settle it in Abu Dhabi. He already got smashed by Khabib Nurmagomedov. I guess his Mayweather money ran out and he’s just looking for more attention.” The heated exchange ultimately prompted UFC president Dana White to intervene and broker a truce.

Now, all eyes are on UFC superstar Conor McGregor as fans eagerly await his response to Hasbulla, especially amid his ongoing feud with fellow Irishman Paul Hughes. The tension flared when Hughes accepted an invitation from Khabib Nurmagomedov to visit Dagestan. Stay tuned for more updates.