The trash talk between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov has reached new heights over the last few days, as McGregor has once again targeted his rival’s religion, and Nurmagomedov returned fire by calling the Irishman a “rapist.”
Speaking to TMZ, MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz explained how Khabib Nurmagomedov reacted to this latest verbal assault from Conor McGregor. Apparently, the lightweight champ just smiled — which is a dangerous sign.
“Khabib smile,” Abdelaziz said. “When Khabib smile, it’s very dangerous. I was all worked up, all worked up, and he smiled. He’s like ‘it’s ok, justice will be served, he’s going to get his.’
“I don’t think Khabib’s a hateful person. He doesn’t want to hurt people. That’s not who he is. Khabib’s a man of faith, believe me. Khabib take all this insult at the press conference, all this stuff, and he unleashed after. This is what he does. He stays professional.”
Ali Abdelaziz then implored Conor McGregor to reel in the trash talk for the sake of his own safety — and that of his team.
“I talked a lot of s**t to Conor, Khabib talked a bit of s**t. Conor went in different directions,” he said of the Irish star. “I’m telling you something, you’re going to get yourself f***ed up, your whole team f***ed up, your security f***ed up. Get your s**t together before you get everybody f***ed up.”
The manager then added that if Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov were to cross paths in the streets, it might end with McGregor disappearing.
“We don’t promote violence, we are promoting peace,” he added. “Enough with the hate. You want to talk about Khabib’s self, he’s ugly, whatever, this is your opinion. Don’t talk about his f***ing wife and his nation and his religion. Believe me, if you put Conor and Khabib in the streets to fight to the death, there will be no Conor. Conor will be disappeared.”
What do you make of the situation between Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov? Do you think the Irishman should heed the words of Ali Abdelaziz?
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 4/4/2019.