The Takedown | UFC 257: MMA world will watch Khabib Nurmagomedov watch Conor McGregor vs Dustin Poirier
- Retired UFC lightweight champ is reportedly still in Abu Dhabi and will seemingly watch Sunday’s main event live
- McGregor will surely call out the Dagestani for a rematch, setting up a tantalising decision for Nurmagomedov
Nothing is more important than Nurmagomedov’s next move, if he makes one and comes out of retirement after he dismantled Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in October. Nurmagomedov broke down in tears after his victory, an emotional win he dedicated to his late father, who died of complications from Covid-19 in July.
While the Russian grappling sensation has repeatedly said he is done fighting, there is one special Irish phenom who might be able to entice him out of retirement. McGregor, if he beats Poirier on Yas Island, will get a perfect opportunity to call Nurmagomedov out in person and reignite one of the most electrifying rivalries the sport has ever seen.
The two met at UFC 229 in October of 2019, the culmination of years of bad blood and a war of words that saw, at one point, McGregor throw a metal barricade at Nurmagomedov’s bus in New York, smashing multiple windows. Then Nurmagomedov leapt out of the Octagon after submitting McGregor to go after his team.
