New UFC signing demands apology from Conor McGregor over comments about Dagestan

Muhammad Mokaev has demanded an apology from McGregor after he insulted the people of Dagestan with his digs at his former rival Khabib Nurmagomedov

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Conor McGregor: Who will he fight next?

New UFC star Muhammad Mokaev has demanded an apology from Conor McGregor for his historic comments about the people of Dagestan.

McGregor has long been involved in a bitter feud with former cage rival Khabib Nurmagomedov which has led to a series of deleted outbursts on social media.

These have included a selection of comments aimed at Nurmagomedov’s family origins from Dagestan.

Now the UFC’s latest signing Mokaev has revealed he received a message from McGregor wishing him well – but also wants an apology.

“He’s sent me a message before wishing me all the best,” Mokaev said. “To be honest, I want to ask him about why he’s been talking about Dagestan.

“I want to see his energy. My manager and everyone says he isn’t the same as he pretends to be in the media.

“Business is good, but my people are my people. It’s not okay to call out the whole nation. There are bad people in Ireland too. So, you can’t say that and he has to apologise.”

McGregor’s comments came earlier in the year when he began a rant on Twitter by branding Nurmagomedov a “smelly inbred” after he called for a Dagestani medal.

His rant was not finished there however and he posted a picture from a Google search related to inbreeding in Dagestani culture.

This prompted an angry response from MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz, who said: “Here we go again insulting people nation and religion, this is not funny. My dream is to see you in person.”

Mokaev’s demand came when speaking about making his UFC debut after launching a successful career in MMA.

His rise has been well documented as a successful bantamweight prospect plying his trade in Brave CF in recent months.

At lightweight McGregor has been naturally pitted in a bout against another Dagestani fighter in Islam Makhachev who is known as the protege of Nurmagomedov.

Will Conor McGregor ever face Islam Makhachev in the UFC? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below

And the Irish star has now slid below Makhachev in the UFC rankings currently sitting in ninth position, five places behind the talented young star who is ranked at No.4.

He is currently recovering from a broken leg injury suffered in a second consecutive defeat to Dustin Poirier but is planning the “greatest comeback ever”.

Calls to a fight on his return have come from the likes of Michael Chandler and Rafael Dos Anjos in the lightweight division as his recovery progress is gathering pace.

But his rival Jorge Masvidal has told him to “go be a celebrity” after rejecting multiple offers to face him during his time in the UFC.

“I think he’s a bitter old man, just staring at the TV all day. It sucks for him that he’s broken,” Masvidal told the MMA Hour.

“He’s gotten broken so many times that he can’t put himself back together, as far as fighting goes. Go have a regular life bro, be a celebrity.”