Conor McGregor may not be actively competing in the UFC at the moment, but his presence in the world of combat sports remains as strong as ever.
While the Irish superstar has been focused on business ventures and an eventual return to fighting, another rising Irish fighter, Paul Hughes, has been making waves in the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
However, after Hughes recently lost to Usman Nurmagomedov and made some post-fight comments about Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor didn’t hold back in delivering a harsh response.
Following his fight against Nurmagomedov, Hughes had an exchange with Khabib and his team, where he made it a point to distinguish himself from McGregor.
“I’m not like this other guy. I’m my own man,” Hughes stated, implying that he did not want to be compared to the former UFC champion. However, this remark did not sit well with McGregor, who took to social media to fire back in his signature fashion.
McGregor’s Sharp Response to Hughes
McGregor has always been fiercely proud of his Irish heritage and the empire he has built beyond the octagon. He used this as a point of attack against Hughes, highlighting his own success and contributions to Ireland’s economy.
Through an Instagram story, which he later shared on X (formerly Twitter), McGregor boasted about the number of jobs he has created with his business ventures, particularly his Forged Irish Stout brand.
“Body of work unmatched. Today I employ over 200 people in the country of Ireland alone. Certified!” McGregor proudly posted. But he didn’t stop there. Taking a direct jab at Hughes, McGregor captioned his X post with four cutting words: “Too right YOU’RE NOT.”
The shift in McGregor‘s stance is particularly interesting, considering he had previously been a vocal supporter of Hughes leading into the fight against Usman Nurmagomedov.
However, Hughes‘ post-fight comments seem to have triggered a complete turnaround in McGregor’s attitude toward his fellow Irishman.
Hughes Considers Training in Dagestan
Despite the controversy, Hughes remains focused on his future in the sport. After an impressive but unsuccessful showing against Nurmagomedov, Khabib and his team praised the young Irish fighter’s effort and even extended an invitation for him to come train in Dagestan.
Hughes appreciated the offer but made it clear that his priority is securing a rematch with Usman Nurmagomedov before considering any training opportunities.
“Thank you, Khabib. I have great respect for you, your team, and your nation,” Hughes wrote on X. “I would be honored to take you up on this offer someday and then return the favor in Ireland… But please, only after I get to rematch Usman.”
Hughes‘ willingness to step into the lion’s den and train with one of the most dominant teams in MMA speaks volumes about his determination to improve. However, whether or not he will actually get the rematch he desires remains uncertain.
As for McGregor, his response to Hughes‘ comments makes it clear that he is still as fiery as ever when it comes to defending his legacy. While Hughes is carving his own path in MMA, he may have inadvertently found himself in the crosshairs of the biggest name in Irish combat sports.
Whether this back-and-forth will lead to more tension or simply fade away remains to be seen, but one thing is certain-McGregor‘s words always leave an impact.