Former UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor runs his mouth to notable advantage. The UFC 229 saw the talent on full display, as McGregor insulted UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, and tangentially referenced Ramzan Kadyrov, strongman head of the Chechen Republic.
My Chechen friends…they told me that they have chicken jaws in Dagestan, and I believe them, because I know a glass jaw when I see one,” said McGregor, as transcribed by The Mirror. “I know he is afraid of a smack; and if you’re afraid of a smack, off me, a smack will feel like a double barrel shotgun.
“The Chechen people know what I am talking about when I called his father a quivering coward. Him and Kadyrov were at a mosque together and he posted a picture of Kadyrov on his Instagram site. Kadyrov is the Chechen dictator, a crazy man, don’t get me wrong… it’s such fake respect, out of fear.”
Russian MMA fighter Khusein Khaliev was not impressed and accused the Irishman of committed the unforgivable act of “harming the honor of our family or a person” of the Caucasus. That’s not good.
Conor, you are a master of trash-talking,” Khaliev began, as translated by Russia Today. “But for the latest time I’ve been offended by you, watching the press conference. I understand that your talk is acceptable in America, or in Ireland or wherever else, but when the matter regards Chechnya or the Caucasus, you will have to think, what you can and can’t talk about. For your words, in the cage or outside the Octagon, you will have to answer, because we never forgive for harming the honor of our family or a person. Therefore, I advise you to show some remorse, and apologize as soon as possible. Your life will not end with your fight against Khabib. Watch your mouth if you’re not looking for trouble.”
Khaliev and big friend.
There some small irony here in that McGregor wasn’t trying to insult Chechens, but was instead trying to drive a wedge between Dagestan’s Nurmagomedov and his southern neighbors in Chechnya. This reminds of Wanderlei Silva backing down Chael Sonnen for remarks about Brazil, but there’s levels to this, and Chechens are at another level.
