Khabib: Conor McGregor Should Go To Jail
The big story that come out of the MMA world this week was the video emerging online of Conor McGregor throwing a punch at an elder gentleman in a pub in Dublin, Ireland. Although the incident took place back in April, it still made shocking viewing.
Since the video went viral, it’s been a huge talking point among fans and fighters alike. UFC president came out and said it was ‘pretty bad’ and that the Irish man can’t behave like that. Adding though that it shouldn’t have any bearing on him fighting inside the Octagon again. Anthony Pettis believes that the man in question, must have said something to provoke a reaction like that out of McGregor. And Jorge Masvidal said the video didn’t look right and didn’t make sense.
One man who had a strong opinion on the incident, was McGregor’s last opponent Khabib Nurmagomedov. Speaking to TMZ Sports (as transcribed by MMA Fighting), the UFC lightweight champion went as far as to say that McGregor needs to go to jail for this incident.
“It’s crazy. All media stayed quiet. Nobody posted about this. I can’t imagine if I punched this guy how many media are gonna post it and talk about me. This is like really, really bad thing. Like, even if this old guy on video punch your face ten times, you can’t punch this guy’s face. You can’t. This is like impossible. We have to respect all people. I don’t understand.”
“Some friend sent me some message today. He said, ‘Hey, you remember when he tried to give you his whiskey and you don’t take this? Why he don’t punch you? Now he go crazy with old people.’ I don’t understand this.
“I think these people have to go jail, bro. They have to go jail. This happened in Ireland? What happened about Ireland government? We guys from Russia have problem with visa, but why this bullshit guy don’t have problem with visa in USA? How USA can give him visa or something like this, respect or job? These people, they have to go jail.”
Khabib went on to say that incidents like this are bad for the sport of MMA and very disrespectful to everyone.
“I told you guy, this guy have no class, no respect. This is very bad for sport. Somethings he’s done are good for sport but right now, he without his mind. He lose his mind. It’s crazy and government has to smash him, this is my opinion.
“I’m really, really mad about this video. I don’t understand how you can punch old man. How you can punch him. Even if he punch your face ten times, twenty times. This is big, big disrespect, not only for this old guy, this is big disrespect for all people.
“One hundred percent [they should arrest him]. Today he punches old guy, what’s gonna happen tomorrow? Nobody knows.”
This isn’t the first time McGregor has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Just in the last sixteen months, the Irish man has been in trouble with the law for his infamous attack on the bus that Khabib was on, at UFC 223. And then earlier this year, the former UFC two division champion was arrested again for snatching and smashing up someone’s phone, outside a night club in Miami, Florida.
McGregor and Khabib have history. The two have traded blows ever since UFC 223. In October of last year, they met inside the Octagon at UFC 229, where Khabib submitted McGregor in the fourth round. Immediately after the fight, a brawl broke out, resulting in Khabib and McGregor receiving suspensions from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Khabib is set to defend his UFC lightweight title at UFC 242 next month, against the interim champion, Dustin Poirier. McGregor currently doesn’t have a fight booked but is expected to return to action once we know how the Khabib vs Poirier and this weekend’s clash between Nate Diaz and Anthony Pettis at UFC 241, play out.
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