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Conor McGregor fought and lost against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. ‘The Notorious’ did some heavy trash-talking prior to the fight, but couldn’t back his words in the Octagon. Most MMA fans will never forget the build-up and the post-fight drama around the event. But, did you know the two had a feud backstage, two years prior to their fight?

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The rivalry between ‘The Eagle’ and ‘Mystic Mac’ could be the biggest in the promotion. The fanbases claim their fighter to be the GOAT. But, Nurmagomedov did put a rest to the debate by putting McGregor to sleep.

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Conor McGregor made a dangerous foe at UFC 205

Conor McGregor is no stranger to quarreling with other fighters. In a 2016 video, The Irishman made his worst enemy by enraging Khabib Nurmagomedov backstage at the Madison Square Garden. The tussle occurred after the two legends fought their respective matches at UFC 205.

READ MORE: 14-Year-Ago, ‘Crying’ Conor McGregor, Who Went Against His Father, Felt Devastated After His First MMA Loss

The Russian defeated Michael Johnson with a third-round submission and impressed the crowd. He slowly started gaining immense notoriety due to his submission techniques.

But McGregor was already one of the biggest names in the sport. He had already defeated Jose Aldo and claimed the featherweight championship. In his previous fight, he bested Nate Diaz in their rematch. And Conor McGregor delivered what he promised for this lightweight bout.

He defeated the then-lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez, in 2 rounds at the main event of the night. This fight crowned McGregor as the king of two divisions simultaneously, which no other fighter achieved.

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So Conor McGregor was definitely at the peak of his powers when this unforeseen brawl occurred.

Guards intervened to pull McGregor and Nurmagomedov apart

Khabib Nurmagomedov was passing by and wanted to get a word in with the former lightweight champion. Things quickly got heated as security guards understood the situation and intervened. Both the fighters looked ready to fight there.

The Russian sounded a warning, “I will smash you” and added, “we’ll see… we’ll see” during the feud. The Notorious also retorted, “Yeah… we will see” after guards started escorting ‘The Eagle’ away from the location.

This confirmed that the bad blood between the two fighters existed, way before The Irishman infamously threw a dolly at Nurmagomedov’s bus, to protect his friend, Artem Lobov. Most MMA fans believe the feud started due to Lobov, but that served as a catalyst for a pre-existing enmity.

WATCH THIS STORY: Conor McGregor’s emotional moments

Who do you think came out on top of this old feud?

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Vulligundam Ruthwik

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Vullingundam Ruthwik is a combat sports writer at EssentiallySports who brings a fact-based and eagle-eyed approach to his coverage of UFC and WWE events. He is a graduate of Journalism from a premier university. Ruthwik's passion for sports writing shines through in his coverage of live UFC events, including 283 and 281. With his insightful analysis and dedication to providing accurate reporting, he has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of combat sports. After a stint as a UFC writer, he switched divisions to WWE. His coverage of the crossover phenomenon Brock Lesnar was particularly noteworthy, showcasing his ability to provide unique perspectives on some of the biggest names in sports entertainment. Even in his free time, Ruthwik remains immersed in the world of sports and content creation, always looking for new and innovative ways to engage with fans

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Rohini Kottu

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