Conor McGregor offered condolences for his bitter rival's father, calling Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov a "dedicated supporter of the sport."
Conor McGregor has a long, storied rivalry with the Nurmagomedov family.
On Friday, news surfaced that family patriarch Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, father of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, died in Moscow following a battle with complications stemming from COVID-19.
Hours later, McGregor took to Twitter to offer condolences for his bitter rival’s father, calling Abdulmanap a “dedicated supporter of the sport.”
“The loss of a father, a coach, and a dedicated supporter of the sport,” McGregor wrote. “Condolences and rest in peace Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.”
McGregor’s comments come weeks after he expressed thoughts that Abdulmanap’s illness was potentially a cover-up to deter from his son’s “lack of activity and pulling out of fights.”
When Abubakar Nurmagomedov posted an image of McGregor getting choked out, the Irishman harshly responded in the comments.
“I figured it was all just a cover-up about Abdulmanap,” McGregor wrote in a quickly deleted comment on Instagram (via Yahoo Sports). A cover-up to hide the lack of activity and the pulling out of fights and running away. Good luck but remember – Allah sees all!”
Khabib and McGregor squared off at UFC 229 in October 2018. Following a heated buildup to the fight, Nurmagomedov submitted McGregor via rear-naked choke in Round 4. Following the finish, Nurmagomedov leaped out of the cage and onto McGregor’s cornermen. The move resulted in an all-out brawl.
The bad blood didn’t end there. McGregor and Nurmagomedov have exchanged words online and in interviews since. While McGregor and UFC president Dana White have expressed interest in a rematch, Nurmagomedov has shot down the prospect.
Nurmagomedov is expected to defend his title against Justin Gaethje this September, although it is not clear in the immediate aftermath of his father’s death whether the fight will continue on that timetable.
