Conor McGregor vs Khabib press conference: Watch video replay ahead of UFC lightweight title fight
It was an unconventional final press conference ahead of Saturday's fight
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The final press conference ahead of Conor McGregor’s UFC title fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov didn’t go quite as planned in Las Vegas on Thursday evening.
McGregor was thirty minutes late to the presser, with reigning champion Khabib deciding against sticking around to trade insults with him.
Instead Khabib made a hasty exit after answering a handful of questions, with McGregor then appearing to promise he would “knock his nose into the nosebleeds” come Saturday night. Relive the best of the press conference below.
What's the latest?
Conor McGregor believes he has spotted flaws in Khabib Nurmagomedov's fighting style and intends to "take his head off" in their showdown for the UFC lightweight title.
Their bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this weekend has been billed as the biggest in the UFC's history and McGregor is looking to make a statement against the person who succeeded him as 155lb champion.
At the workouts open to the public at the Park Theater, McGregor thrilled those in attendance as he introduced his young son before settling into his routine, predictably focusing on his striking technique.
Conor McGregor's most controversial moments
Show all 13Afterwards he told the cheering audience: "Saturday night: You're in for a show, trust me on that. I'm going to take his head off. Trust me.
"(It will be a) devastating KO. (Nurmagomedov is) too easy to hit, too flat-footed, too predictable, I'm going to knock him clean out."
McGregor is returning to the UFC after a near two-year absence against Nurmagomedov, who will make the first defence of the title he won by beating late replacement Al Iaquinta in April.
The Irishman was relieved of the crown because of his hiatus from the octagon, having made a brief foray into boxing to challenge Floyd Mayweather in a highly lucrative contest in August last year.
Now he is back in mixed martial arts for a fight that is seen as a puncher versus a grappler, but McGregor is unfazed by his Russian opponent's gameplan.
He added: "I don't give a f*** about anything. Any wrestling, any technique, any anything. I'm coming for that man's head from the f****** bell.
"It's good to be back. Let's go do it. A proper fight, a proper, proper fight."
Nurmagomedov had earlier been given a hostile reception from a largely pro-McGregor crowd and appeared to cut his session short in order to remonstrate with his foe's supporters.
As the jeers continued, he insisted he would win them over, saying: "Three days. You're going to like me. I know you're going to love me."
The 30-year-old, who put a particular emphasis on his takedowns and wrestling during his programme on Wednesday afternoon, also questioned McGregor's pride in his Irish heritage.
McGregor mentioned in last month's press conference about how his ancestors fought the English empire and that his family name was banned for a century by King James.
Nurmagomedov, though, referenced McGregor's grandfather's time with the British Merchant Navy.
Nurmagomedov said: "These guys talk about (how) they fight English people but his grandfather worked with the English navy. Now you support (his grandson)? I'm going to change this on Saturday night.
"I have a question for Ireland. What about your language, what about your Irish language? Where's your language? What's wrong with your language?
"Are you guys right now with England, you guys change your language. Give me answer someone if you can. It's very interesting."
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the final Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor McGregor press conference.
The presser is due to begin at 11.30pm GMT and we will bring you rolling coverage of the event, as well as build-up and all the latest in the hours ahead.
McGregor's prediction
Conor McGregor has made his prediction about how he thinks the fight will go, and *SPOILER ALERT* in an unsurprising turn of events, he reckons he'll win.
“It’s good to be back. Let’s go do it. A proper fight, a proper, proper fight.”
Boos for Khabib
Khabib Nurmagomedov was roundly jeered at his open workout by a pro-Conor McGregor crowd ahead of their UFC 229 showdown.
The Russian, who succeeded McGregor as lightweight champion earlier this year after the Irishman was stripped of the title, was going through his routine at the Park Theater in Las Vegas.
However, he was given a hostile reception and appeared to cut his session short to address those in attendance, insisting he would win over those booing him.
He said: "Three days. You're going to like me. I know you're going to love me."
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Tom Kershaw attempts to explain. (Spoiler alert: not that genuine!)
Don't be naughty!
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Khabib questions McGregor's heritage
Khabib Nurmagomedov, who has questioned McGregor's pride in his Irish heritage, did so once again.
Referencing McGregor's grandfather's time with the British Merchant Navy, he said: "These guys talk about (how) they fight English people but his grandfather worked with the English navy."
Nurmagomedov added: "I have a question for Ireland: what about your language, what about your Irish language? Where's your language? What's wrong with your language?"
This won't go down well with the Green Army
What do you do when you've won and earned everything there is? That's right, launch your whiskey brand.
Conor McGregor has launched his own brand of whiskey called Proper No. Twelve, a homage to where he grew up. He is the founder, chairman and majority owner of the company in conjunction with Eire Born Spirits.
“I come from a suburb called Crumlin, in Dublin 12. It’s a place dear to my heart. It’s where I learned how to fight; it made me who I am today. It’s a place I’m still very much a part of every single day of my life.
"It’s proper Irish whiskey and twelve is my hometown. So, that’s where the name came from. Growing up on the streets of Dublin 12, I learned the values of loyalty and hard work. I am the founder of this company and I am going to give it my all."
The taste is said to be "complex and sophisticated yet smooth and approachable with hints of vanilla, honey and toasted wood", and $5 for every case sold will be donated to local first responder groups and charities.
“First responders all over the world are the unsung heroes who act with courage and answer the call of duty every day for people in need,” McGregor said.
“I have great respect for these men and women. The company has committed to donate $5 for every case sold to local first responder organisations/charities, up to $1 million annually.
"The organisations/charities will be identified for each state and country around the world and donations will go directly to specific states and countries where sales take place." he said.
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