​Islam
Makhachev sympathizes with Conor
McGregor.
McGregor (22-7) returned to action in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship after a five-year hiatus against
Max
Holloway at
UFC 329. However, the highly anticipated rematch ended
anticlimactically as McGregor injured his knee with the first kick
he threw. The Irishman could barely plant his leg after the injury,
forcing the referee to step in at just 69 seconds of the opening
round.
Despite the longtime rivalry between their teams, Makhachev feels
bad for the former two-division champ.Islam Makhachev says Conor McGregor’s comeback ending in 69
seconds wasn’t how he expected the fight to unfold
While the Dagestani contingent aren’t fans of McGregor, Makhachev
(28-1) commiserated with the fan favorite. While the reigning
welterweight champion expected Holloway to win, he didn’t see the
fight ending the way it did. Makhachev recently revealed that he
was interested in seeing how McGregor would perform after five
years of inactivity.
“Honestly, I feel bad,” Makhachev told Complex. “I know Max was
going to beat him, but not fast like this, in the first minute. I
want to see how he fights after five years. And honestly, feel bad
when this happen.”
McGregor and Makhachev’s mentor, Khabib
Nurmagomedov, shared one of the most intense rivalries in UFC
history. “Notorious” had targeted Nurmagomedov’s family and
religion in the lead-up to their historic clash. When they finally
met in the Octagon in 2018, “The Eagle” forced the tap from
McGregor in the fourth round.
Nurmagomedov then jumped the cage and launched himself at
McGregor’s teammates, leading to an all-out brawl. Makhachev was
also involved, jumping inside the cage with other teammates, who
attacked McGregor.
McGregor has one fight left on his current UFC contract, which he
vows to fulfill, with a return next summer in sight. Meanwhile, in
yet another chapter in the Dagestan-Ireland rivalry, Makhachev will
look to defend his 170-pound title against Irish welterweight
Ian
Garry at UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
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