Old tweets from Khabib Nurmagomedov have resurfaced in the wake of Conor McGregor losing his sexual assault case, where the Russian fighter had called the Irishman a ‘rapist’ back in 2019.
In his 2019 tweet, Khabib – who had a fierce rivalry with McGregor – wrote: ‘Rapist, you are a rapist. You are a hypocrite that is not responsible for his actions. Justice will find you. We will see.’
Since the news broke that McGregor lost the case tied to an alleged 2018 incident, fans have been resharing Khabib’s earlier tweet – stating the Russian ‘was right’ about the Irishman.
The decision to reshare the tweet came after a woman who accused McGregor of raping her won her claim against the former UFC champion for damages in a civil case on Saturday morning.
The woman in question – Nikita Hand – was awarded nearly €250,000 (£210,000) in damages after a jury at Dublin’s High Court found McGregor assaulted her in a Dublin hotel in 2018.
The jury were in deliberation for six hours and 10 minutes before they returned to the courthouse to give their verdicts on Saturday morning – finding McGregor ‘guilty’.
In his 2019 tweet, Khabib wrote: ‘Rapist, you are a rapist. You are a hypocrite that is not responsible for his actions. Justice will find you. We will see’
The standard of proof in a criminal case is higher than in a civil case as jurors must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt before they can convict. In a civil case, this standard is lower and a verdict can be reached on the balance of probabilities.
The jury in the McGregor trial was told the balance of probabilities means they had to decide if something was more likely to have been true than not. (Prepared by Arthur Parashar for another MailOnline story.)
However, Hand lost her lawsuit against McGregor’s friend, James Lawrence, who she had also accused of assaulting her in the Dublin hotel.
Following the decision, Hand spoke outside the courts, explaining how the weeks leading up to the trial had been like a ‘nightmare’ but how she felt vindicated.
McGregor, 36 made a quick exit from the court following the verdict but later released a statement on social media, revealing he would be appealing the decision.
In a statement posted on ‘X’, McGregor said: ‘I will be appealing today’s decision. The judge’s instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages.
‘I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future. Thank you to all my support worldwide.’
Fans were quick to reshare Khabib’s 2019 post, with accompanying captions such as: ‘Khabib Nurmagomedov said this back in 2019 about Conor McGregor who has just been found guilty of rape’.
Khabib took on McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in 2018, forcing the Notorious to submit in the fourth round (pictured above)
However, fans couldn’t believe their eyes when Khabib leaped over the cage to spark a mass brawl
Another added: ‘Khabib was right about Conor McGregor.’ While another wrote: ‘Khabib only said what the whole of Ireland already knew….’.
The rivalry between Khabib and McGregor is one of the most heated and controversial in mixed martial arts history, and it has evolved over several years, fuelled by both personal and professional tensions.
It all began in earnest in 2015 when McGregor, fresh off winning the UFC Featherweight title, made it clear he intended to capture the Lightweight title next.
Khabib, then on a dominant unbeaten streak, called out McGregor, suggesting that the Irishman should stay in the featherweight division as he was unprepared for the lightweight competition.
The most significant escalation came in 2018. Leading up to UFC 223, McGregor’s training partner, Artem Lobov, had a public altercation with Khabib at a hotel, which Khabib did not let slide.
In retaliation, McGregor and a group of his associates attacked a bus carrying Khabib and other fighters during a UFC 223 media day.
McGregor’s actions resulted in his arrest and a court case, but the incident turned the rivalry into something personal, deeply intensifying the animosity between the two.
As tensions grew, McGregor’s trash talk escalated. He mocked Khabib’s family, religion, and culture, calling his father a ‘coward’ and criticising Khabib’s Muslim faith.
There is no doubt the brawl at UFC 229 will go down in history as one of the most notable nights in MMA history
There is no doubt the brawl at UFC 229 will go down in history as one of the most notable nights in MMA history
This culminated in the press conferences before UFC 229 in October 2018, where McGregor attempted to provoke Khabib further, even attempting to kick him at one point.
On the night of the fight, Khabib dominated McGregor with superior wrestling and ground control, submitting him in the fourth round. However, the fight’s aftermath was even more dramatic than the contest itself.
Khabib leapt over the octagon and charged at McGregor’s corner, sparking a wild brawl. Khabib later stated that the confrontation wasn’t just about the fight but was deeply personal, stemming from McGregor’s insults against his family and faith.
Despite McGregor’s attempts to provoke a rematch, Khabib moved on and eventually retired undefeated in 2020, with his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest fighters firmly intact.
