Conor McGregor breaks silence on Malignaggi rumours before savaging Khabib on Instagram
CONOR MCGREGOR has broken his silence on reports he’s in talks to box Paulie Malignaggi.
Earlier this week, it was claimed that negotiations were underway for the former UFC lightweight champion to face Malignaggi, who he sparred in the build-up to his 2017 boxing match with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Malignaggi revealed to Express Sport on Thursday that no such talks are being held and theorised that the rumour could’ve been started by McGregor in order to keep his name in the headlines.
“Not true,” Malignaggi told Express Sport on Wednesday night when asked if he’s in talks to face the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion.
“But of course, Conor is the king of bulls**t so I would not be surprised if this Conor having his team put out rumours just to keep his name in the headlines.”
He added: “Yesterday [Tuesday], Tenshin Nasukawa shut him down by telling him he needs to make 58 kilos for a fight.
“Now suddenly, the next day, he is another headline negotiating? I assure you he will never fight me. No balls wasn’t a catchphrase, it is a fact.
Malignaggi’s staunch denial soon came to the attention of ‘The Notorious’, who took aim at the former WBA and IBF welterweight champion in a lengthy Instagram post early on Saturday morning.
Alongside a video of himself and Malignaggi exchanging words outside of the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, McGregor wrote: “Let the record show. I like Paulie Malignaggi.
I know you’s are broke boys. But don’t be broke b*****s
“Here is a confrontation between us regarding a picture he was upset about. Yes you heard that right. A picture.
“I told him here to his face. ‘Don’t be b******g.’ Common knowledge I would think for a fighting man. Don’t be a b***h, b******g.”
McGregor then turned his attention to his successor at the summit of the lightweight division - Khabib Nurmagomedov - who he claimed was complaining to referee Herb Dean for the duration of their UFC 229 bout, which he lost via a fourth round submission.
He continued: “The same thing I said to Khabib at the end of round 3. My round. Don’t be b******g! Every single round b******g to the referee.
“He was even b******g in the fourth round from mount position. It baffled me.”
McGregor believes he should’ve been the one complaining as Nurmagomedov held him down for the duration of the first round and inflicted very little damage on him.
“If anyone should have been saying anything to the referee, it should have been me in that 1st round,” he said.
“That round he held onto my legs for four minutes straight. With zero activity.
“But a fight is a fight who gives a f**k. Crying to the referee like a proper b***h. I was trying to dig my fingers into his Adams Apple.
“Many individuals in the fight business, I have learned lately, are absolute b*****s. I know you’s are broke boys. But don’t be broke b*****s.”
It didn’t take long for McGregor’s comments to come to the attention of Nurmagomedov, who responded by mocking the Dubliner over his most recent loss.
“You will live with this shame all your life, bi...#tapmachine #mactaper,” he wrote on Instagram and Twitter alongside a GIF of him submitting ‘The Notorious’.
McGregor is keen to have a rematch with the undefeated Nurmagomedov and expressed that desire moments after he was submitted.
However, before the UFC brass can contemplate booking the fight, or pressing ahead with the lightweight division for that matter, the pair must learn their fates for respective their parts in the brawl which followed UFC 229.
The 30-year-olds were supposed to be sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on December 10 but were both granted continuances.
They’re expected to be reprimanded for their actions on January 29, the date for the NSAC’s next hearing.