KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV’S trainer has claimed Conor McGregor’s “unspectacular” performance against Dustin Poirier is the reason behind the Russian fighter staying retired.
Khabib, 34, hung up his gloves back in 2020 with a perfect professional MMA record of 29 wins and no defeats.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from MMA in 2020Getty
Conor McGregor has lost his last two UFC fightsGetty
His final victory came over Justin Gaethje in Abu Dhabi, two years after he made McGregor submit in the fourth round of a one-sided grudge match.
And his coach Javier Mendez has now revealed he was considering a comeback prior to Poirier’s first win over McGregor back in January 2021.
But the Irishman failed to suitably impress Khabib as he was stopped following a barrage of punches in the second round.
Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, Mendez said: “After Khabib retired they were still testing them.
“Dana White didn’t remove Khabib from the testing pool after he retired because he still hoped Khabib would fight again, but then Khabib had enough of being tested, so he told Dana he didn’t want to test anymore and that he’s not coming back.
“He was roughly tested for about eight months before he had enough.
“The UFC were trying to get him to come back and he came close.
“You saw it when we were in Abu Dhabi. He said, ‘If someone shows me something spectacular then maybe I’ll come back’.
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“It was Conor v Poirier that night, but it did not get Khabib excited. He said if something excited him on that card then maybe he’d consider it.
“But it never happened. The UFC was pushing him, but nothing excited him, so it was [a] no go.”
Following his loss to Poirier at the beginning of 2021 – a man he had beaten seven years earlier – McGregor took on the American for a third time six months later.
But it was the same result for the former two-weight world champion as he broke his leg with a kick at the end of the first round and the doctor stopped the fight.
McGregor has not been seen in the octagon since that bout nearly two years ago.
To return, he must complete six months of dope testing, but he is yet to be added to USADA’s online database.
The last UFC pay-per-view of the year is set for December 16, meaning McGregor would have needed to enrol by June 16.
It leaves his return up in the air as it is set to be shelved until next year.
Khabib’s coach Javier Mendez, right, says the Russian was close to making a returnGetty Read More