Daniel Cormier recalls Khabib being upset at him over Conor McGregor

Daniel Cormier values Khabib Nurmagomedov’s loyalty.

Former UFC champions Cormier and Nurmagomedov spent years coaching collectively at American Kickboxing Academy. All through their careers, each partook in two of the largest rivalries in UFC historical past.

Cormier and Jon Jones’ unhealthy blood was nicely documented, and “DC” nonetheless doesn’t see a world the place they’ll utterly bury the hatchet. Jones heaped reward on Nurmagomedov, and included him in his prime 5 biggest fighters checklist.

Nurmagomedov respects Jones’ achievements, however stated he can’t be buddies with him due to his battle with Cormier (h/t Bloody Elbow). Upon listening to that, Cormier understood simply why Nurmagomedov wasn’t pleased with him as soon as having a pleasant encounter together with his arch rival Conor McGregor.

“We as People, we as a tradition, we don’t abide by those self same guidelines on a regular basis,” Cormier stated on his YouTube channel. “If you’re in such an ideal battle with somebody, as my buddy, we as People could not see the necessity to sort of fall in line and really feel or function in the identical approach. Conor McGregor, who I met again within the day – he was at a few fights, and we’ve at all times been cordial with one another. I don’t actually know Conor very nicely. Khabib and Conor have been cordial at first, additionally, but it surely turned so nasty now that there was that large construct to the combat, the way in which the combat ended, all the pieces.

“I noticed Conor McGregor in Abu Dhabi. I don’t know who he was preventing – perhaps it was Dustin Poirier. We have been shaking fingers, and we have been speaking slightly bit, and have been very sort of chummy. And Khabib was like, ‘Brother, I don’t perceive this.’ He stated, ‘If I see Conor together with his spouse, I’ll shake his hand as a result of that’s what you’re purported to do, however brother …’ And I initially sort of fought it, however folks near me stated, “He’s proper. Take a look at the stance he’s taken with reference to everybody you cope with. Why on the planet would you not take that very same stance?’”

Since then, Cormier says he’s taken Nurmagomedov’s phrases into regard and has modified his angle towards McGregor.

“I don’t attempt to request McGregor for interviews,” Cormier continued. “I don’t assume that I might get him, however I’m simply saying it’s not a request I make each time I’m there. However it’s like par for the course for these dudes as a result of actually, Khabib’s not only a teammate, he’s household, they usually’re like that with everybody.

“And so they really feel like if somebody’s in battle, particularly on the stage that Jones and I have been in battle, they’re very stern within the facet they choose, and it’s sort of refreshing as a result of most individuals aren’t like that, guys. They’re simply not – particularly us as People. So watching that wasn’t loopy for me. Dude, he actually is the person. Khabib is the person. He’s acquired to be one of the vital real people I’ve ever met, and I don’t know if there’s something I wouldn’t do for this dude.”