Conor McGregor’s Path to Redemption: Could He Finally End His Bitter Feud with Khabib?

Conor McGregor may soon have the chance to settle his long-standing grudge against Khabib Nurmagomedov once and for all – by facing off with Khabib’s protege, Islam Makhachev.

The tension between McGregor and Nurmagomedov has lingered since their iconic bout nearly six years ago, which remains the biggest fight in UFC history.

After one of the most heated pre-fight build-ups the sport has ever seen, Nurmagomedov won via a fourth-round submission, but the bad blood between the two never fully dissipated.

Since then, McGregor, now 36, has continued to throw jabs at the Russian on social media, keeping the rivalry alive. While Khabib retired from MMA in 2020, the feud remains unresolved, leaving fans and pundits questioning if the two UFC legends will ever bury the hatchet.

However, there may be a path to peace. Daniel Cormier, a close friend and former training partner of Nurmagomedov, believes that “The Eagle” might be able to move past his dislike for McGregor – but only if McGregor takes on the current lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, who was trained by Khabib’s late father, Abdulmanap.

On the latest episode of the “Good Guy, Bad Guy” podcast, Cormier explained: “He just hates Khabib. He hates him… They are not letting it go. It’s deep-rooted, but it’s deep-rooted on both sides. [Khabib] doesn’t like this guy either. They don’t like each other. It’s very deep.”

Cormier added that the closest McGregor may come to resolving the tension would be by defeating Michael Chandler in his upcoming fight, earning a shot at Makhachev for the lightweight title. This potential victory could give McGregor the chance to redeem himself and put an end to the rivalry that has defined his UFC career in recent years.

Makhachev, who is now regarded as one of the most dominant fighters in the lightweight division, has expressed openness to fighting McGregor. For Cormier, a match between McGregor and Makhachev could give Nurmagomedov some closure, while McGregor might finally find redemption by defeating “the guy who became the guy.”

However, Cormier is uncertain if the fight will ever come to fruition, noting that Michael Chandler has yet to confirm a date for his highly anticipated bout with McGregor. Initially slated for June, McGregor’s return to the octagon was delayed after he broke his left pinky toe during a sparring session.

Now, the UFC is eyeing December 14 as a potential date for McGregor’s return. In an exclusive interview with SunSport, McGregor expressed excitement about closing out the UFC’s pay-per-view calendar for the year. “That sounds good to me,” McGregor told SunSport.

If McGregor successfully defeats Chandler, his next challenge may be a showdown with Makhachev. This fight could not only reignite McGregor’s championship ambitions but also put an end to his bitter feud with Khabib, once and for all.

With the stakes higher than ever, fans around the world are eagerly watching to see if Conor McGregor can finally find redemption and close the chapter on his rivalry with Khabib.