Cormier Recalls Khabib’s Reaction to McGregor
In a November 2024 interview, former two-division champion Daniel Cormier recalled that Khabib Nurmagomedov objected to Cormier’s friendly exchange with Conor McGregor in Abu Dhabi during the period when McGregor was preparing to face Dustin Poirier. Cormier said the exchange led to a conversation about loyalty and the lingering rivalry. This account comes from Cormier’s retelling, reported by MMA Junkie.
Cormier’s account of the exchange
Cormier described shaking hands and speaking with McGregor, then recalled that Nurmagomedov questioned why he had been friendly with a rival. Cormier said he initially viewed the interaction as ordinary courtesy and later understood that Nurmagomedov saw the feud differently. The remarks are Cormier’s recollection, shared on a November 2024 episode of The Herd; they should not be treated as an independently verified account of Nurmagomedov’s private views.
The rivalry between Nurmagomedov and McGregor culminated at UFC 229 in October 2018. Nurmagomedov won the lightweight title bout by submission, and a post-fight altercation followed. The event’s broader history is covered in ESPN’s event report.
Cormier’s recollection describes how he interpreted the exchange and Nurmagomedov’s response. It does not independently establish what Nurmagomedov privately thought, so attribution remains essential. The rivalry’s public record is clearer: their UFC 229 lightweight title fight ended with Nurmagomedov submitting McGregor, followed by a post-fight altercation.
