‘Get some wins, then we can talk about a rematch’ – Khabib mocks McGregor with fresh rebuke

UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov has issued another stinging rebuke to rival Conor McGregor, telling the Irishman to “get some wins” before entertaining any notion of a rematch between the pair.

McGregor took to Twitter on Saturday in an attempt to dismantle a claim that undefeated Russian Nurmagomedov is the best grappler MMA has ever seen.

The lightweight fighters met in Las Vegas in October in a bout Khabib won in dominant fashion via fourth-round submission.

Responding to a fan, McGregor wrote: “Having felt it in there [the octagon], I highly disagree with the ‘best grappler in the UFC’ comment regarding Khabib.

“My solely defensive guard was not passed until round 4. I, along with my team, overrated his grappling greatly. The rematch will show all.”

The Dagestani fighter was having none of it, however, replying to McGregor’s post with a message from his Twitter account: “You and your team never won anything since 2016. You got to get some W [wins], and we can talk about rematch,” mockingly adding the hashtag ‘twitterwarrior’.

‘The Notorious’ has not tasted victory inside the octagon since he beat Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 in November 2016.

He has since made a lucrative – if unsuccessful – foray into boxing to face Floyd Mayweather, before returning to the cage only to be beaten by Nurmagomedov in October of last year.

McGregor seems to be angling for a direct rematch with the Russian, even appearing to direct lightweight rival Dustin Poirier away from a fight with Nurmagomedov.

Poirier beat Max Holloway at UFC 236 in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday night to clinch the interim lightweight belt and seemingly set up a fight with Nurmagomedov later this year.

The Russian himself posted the message “see you in September” as he praised Poirier and Holloway for their thrilling slugfest, while UFC chief Dana White also reiterated that Nurmagomedov versus Poirier was the fight the promotion was aiming for in September.

In paying his own tribute to Poirier and Holloway, McGregor wrote however that the former should next take on Nate Diaz, after that scheduled match-up last year fell through.

Most would see that as wishful thinking from the Irishman, who, as Nurmagomedov says, will likely need at least one fresh win under his belt before earning a second crack at ‘The Eagle’.