"You go to Maldives and enjoy, same thing" - Khabib Nurmagomedov claims fighting Conor McGregor was like a vacation

Years after retiring unbeaten, Khabib Nurmagomedov still finds new ways to paint his rivalry with Conor McGregor with sharp words. Speaking in a recent Q&A session, 'The Eagle' said his grudge match with McGregor felt like a vacation.

Their 2018 fight remains one of the most chaotic events in UFC history. Nurmagomedov dominated McGregor from start to finish before submitting him in the fourth round with a neck crank. The aftermath was pure mayhem as the Dagestani fighter leapt out of the cage to confront McGregor’s team. His action sparked a wild brawl that spilt through the arena.

That being said, Nurmagomedov insists the entire buildup and fight were moments of pure enjoyment. He described the bout as something he had long waited for, calling it his version of a holiday. Speaking with S Khalil, he said:

“One thing is very, very beautiful in this [[MMA] world. When you don’t like somebody, you go inside the cage, you smash him, and they give you money. Outside the cage, if you do this, you go to jail. I was waiting for this moment so long, and finally I could not only fight, I could talk. I used this moment and I enjoyed it, like the way you go to Maldives and enjoy, same thing. It was my vacation."

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Check out Khabib Nurmagomedov's comments below (1:07:10):

The rivalry between the two changed the landscape of the sport. It crossed into mainstream culture. While McGregor went on to build successful businesses, Nurmagomedov retired unbeaten and focused on coaching.

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Islam Makhachev says Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor rivalry will never be matched

Islam Makhachev believes the intensity of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s feud with Conor McGregor stands alone in UFC history. Reflecting on the rivalry, he said no matchup today can recreate the scale of global attention their 2018 clash generated.

Makhachev feels newer stars like Ilia Topuria may rise, but none can replicate the animosity and anticipation that surrounded the UFC 229 clash. Speaking in an interview with Match TV, he said:

“I don't think it's even close. But if you compare interests, he's one of the biggest. If you were to pick someone now, he'd be one of the biggest. And Khabib vs. Conor, I don't think it'll happen again.”

Edited by Abhishek Nambiar