Khabib Manager Takes Brutal Shot At Conor McGregor Over Manny Pacquiao Fight

Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, posted a fiery response to Conor McGregor's claim that a fight with Manny Pacquiao is all set to happen in the Middle East.

'The Notorious' shared an image of himself and Pacquiao on Instagram with the caption 'Saudi Arabia: Winter 2020'. But Abdelaziz was quick to give his feedback on Twitter.

"Is funny how this Liar posted a photo," he wrote. "Him and Pacman Fighting in Saudi Arabia?

"I was talking right now with my friend from Saudi Arabia and he told me Conor and his team got 3 hours to take this post down and guess what he did like a little b**ch. It was all fake zero truth."

Abdelaziz was quoting a tweet by interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who'd already taken aim at McGregor's post, saying: "Not a good look lying on the boss. Anything to not look like a bitch.

"You had me in January I was calling on you left and right and not a peep. My manager asked if I wanted you after Tony [Ferguson] but you know, f**k you. You never wanted it, you took the easy road kid."

Ouch. It's certainly true that nothing appears officially agreed at all for a possible McGregor vs Pacquiao fight - yet this response to a harmless piece of typical Conor hype seems pretty over the top.

However that's no surprise given the two sources of the anger. Abdelaziz has let rip at McGregor before, telling the 32-year-old: "Sit down boy and let your superiors fight" when Conor commented on the upcoming Khabib-Gaethje bout.

There is seriously bad blood between McGregor and Nurmagomedov's whole camp after the ugly build-up to their October 2018 fight. That was won by Khabib but marred by post-fight violence in the Octagon that saw both fighters receive hefty fines and lengthy bans.

The 31-year-old Gaethje, who faces Khabib in October at UFC 254, is also naturally keen to goad McGregor into a fight. The Irishman remains the biggest draw in all of MMA, despite his sporadic appearances in the Octagon in recent years.

So - even if it turns out McGregor was telling the truth all along and he really is signed and sealed to take on the Pac Man in Saudi Arabia this year - do not expect a hearty apology from Abdelaziz or Gaethje any time soon.

Imagery: PA Images

Topics: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor Mcgregor, Manny Pacquiao, Justin Gaethje, UFC News, MMA News, Fight News, UFC, MMA

Alex Reid

Alex Reid is a writer at SPORTbible who’s previously strung words together for FourFourTwo, Boxing News, The Guardian and, yes, Cruise International (it’s about big ships, not Tom). Interests range from football and boxing to real sports like WWE and darts. He is not a cage fighter.

@otheralexreid