Conor McGregor told the ghost of bitter rival Khabib still lives ‘rent-free’ in his head as he prepares for UFC return
CONOR MCGREGOR has been told bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov still lives “rent-free” in his head.
The UFC’s poster boy came up short in his 2018 grudge match with the undefeated Russian and has repeatedly tried to goad him into a rematch ever since.
Nurmagomedov, however, walked away from the sport in October 2020 – although that didn’t stop McGregor from calling for a second showdown late last year.
And former middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes The Eagle occupies a huge amount of real estate in the head of the Irishman.
During a recent episode of his Believe You Me podcast, Britain’s first UFC champ said: “Conor McGregor is always talking c**p about him and always calling him out.
“The man lives rent-free in his head.”
Former pound-for-pound king Nurmagomedov retired from MMA following a submission victory over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
The Dagestani destroyer turned his hand to coaching but has since taken a break from the sport as a whole to spend more time with his family.
McGregor, meanwhile, is gearing up to make a blockbuster return to the cage later this year.
The former two-division champion hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since shattering his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in the summer of 2021.
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But he’s seemingly primed and ready to return to action after a long and extensive rehab.
During an impromptu Instagram Q&A last October, he said: “I’m going to be back soon, hopefully.
“Early 2023 I’m aiming for. Sometime in that first quarter. That will give me a good couple of months [to prepare].
“Once I wrap this up in a couple of days, get the camp going [for] a good couple of months. And get going.”
McGregor, however, has yet to re-enrol in the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing pool – which he must be in for six months before competing.
But the Dubliner is seemingly hoping to receive an exemption to make an earlier-than-expected return.
In November, Mystic Mac tweeted: “I’m clear for testing in February.
“I will complete my two tests per USADA & we are booking a fight.”