Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Boxing

Conor McGregor’s greatest rivalries and best feuds including Khabib bus attack and Floyd Mayweather public bust-ups

CONOR McGREGOR has been centre to some of the most notorious moments inside out outside of the UFC octagon.

He has even wreaked havoc for boxing purists when he crossed over to the ring to face Floyd Mayweather three years ago.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor had a bitter build up

McGregor has four times shattered the UFC’s pay-per-view record thanks to bitter and hyped pre-fight build ups.

And the former two-weight champion has proven value for money with great highs and devastating lows in the cage.

Here SunSport takes a look at the Irishman’s greatest rivalries and feuds.

Khabib Nurmagomedov

Before Khabib and McGregor sold 2.4m PPV’s – the most in UFC history – the animosity had already reached boiling point.

McGregor got himself arrested in April 2018, six months before their fight, after attacking a bus which had Nurmagomedov inside.

When the lightweight title fight was announced, The Notorious wasted no time in attacking his rival, mocking his religion, family and entourage.

McGregor was made to pay for his words, after tapping out in round four of their grudge match.

But soon after a post-fight brawl between both teams erupted outside and inside the octagon.

It has fulled demand for a rematch, and McGregor nor Khabib appear to have let their rivalry go.

McGregor attacked a bus that had Khabib inside

Nate Diaz

McGregor was in line to challenge for the lightweight belt in March 2016, but Rafael dos Anjos pulled out with a foot injury.

It allowed Diaz to step in on 11 days notice with the fight moved to a welterweight headliner – and immediately the pair clashed.

The pre-fight build up was intense with back and forth verbals, but McGregor was silenced as he gassed out in round two and submitted.

He remained humble after his first UFC defeat, but demanded a rematch, which he received five months later.

McGregor would enact revenge at UFC 202 in a five round thriller, setting up a trilogy and building silent respect between the two.

Both stars have since gone their separate ways, but the door is not yet shut on the rubber match.

McGregor and Diaz built a silent respect after their two fights

Floyd Mayweather

McGregor put his UFC career on hold in 2017 to prepare for his lucrative boxing debut against Mayweather.

The UFC superstar was full of brash promises and predictions before the fight, which even saw his odds of winning slashed to 4/1.

McGregor insisted that Mayweather was ‘too small’ and after the gloves were changed from 10oz to 8oz he said the unbeaten legend would only last two rounds.

In the end, the ring novice chalked up an early lead, as Mayweather took his time, but tired as the bout went on and would be stopped in round ten.

McGregor’s confidence seems not to have taken a dent, having since called for a rematch.

Before his last win, against Donald Cerrone in January, the southpaw returned to his first amateur boxing coaches, and feels he now has the guidance to beat Mayweather.

McGregor was full of brash promises and predictions before facing Mayweather

Paulie Malignaggi

Before McGregor’s ‘money-fight’ with Mayweather, a now infamous sparring session with Malignaggi threatened to steal the headlines.

Malignaggi stormed out of the Irishman’s camp after pictures and footage leaked – including a disputed knockdown of the retired boxer.

The pair even came to ahead during a press conference before Mayweather fought McGregor.

Malignaggi has on numerous times challenged McGregor and mocked his boxing ability, spewing endless tirades about the Irishman.

McGregor revealed in January he wanted to box again and Malignaggi was a potential opponent.

He told ESPN: “I’d like to box Paulie, why not? That’s a bit of buzz, Paulie in a boxing bout.”

Paulie Malignaggi and McGregor built a feud after their sparring sessions

Jose Aldo

McGregor was first scheduled to fight Aldo in July 2015 and the pair visited eight cities to promote the event.

Brazilian Aldo – unbeaten for ten years at the time – was subject to constant verbal and mental warfare by his outspoken challenger.

But the fight was delayed after the champion pulled out injured, with McGregor instead beating Chad Mendes for the interim title.

The featherweight unification was moved to December, allowing McGregor more time to get under Aldo’s skin.

It proved vital, as Aldo appeared tense before the bell sounded and was knocked out in 13 seconds having recklessly charged forward.

McGregor paid his respect to the legendary South American afterwards and even offered him a rematch, but The Notorious would go onto bigger and better things.

McGregor won the mental warfare against Aldo