Conor McGregor’s penchant for stirring up controversy on social media has once again made headlines, as he took aim at UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in a now-deleted post. Despite both fighters having upcoming bouts scheduled, McGregor couldn’t resist the opportunity to lob a crass insult at Makhachev in response to a training photo.
In the since-deleted comment, McGregor referred to Makhachev as “Cousin f******,” sparking reactions and screenshots from fans before the post was removed by ‘The Notorious’ himself.
McGregor’s inflammatory comment adds fuel to the fire ahead of Makhachev’s title defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 and McGregor’s return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. Despite not directly facing each other, the exchange heightens anticipation and speculation surrounding a potential matchup between the two fighters.
McGregor’s prediction of Poirier defeating Makhachev and potentially finishing him echoes his ongoing rivalry with the Russian fighter. On a recent live stream, McGregor highlighted Makhachev’s past loss via knockout to Adriano Martins, suggesting vulnerability to certain techniques that Poirier could exploit.
In response to the hypothetical prospect of facing McGregor, Makhachev acknowledged the financial appeal of such a matchup and recognized the narrative depth stemming from McGregor’s history with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev’s mentor and former foe of McGregor.
While a Makhachev-McGregor showdown may not align with athletic meritocracy, the potential storyline and financial implications make it an intriguing possibility for both fighters and fans alike. As tensions simmer between the two camps, the prospect of their paths crossing in the octagon adds an extra layer of intrigue to the already dynamic UFC lightweight division.
