Javier Mendez Lost “100% Respect” For Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Opponent After His Disrespectful Comments

Javier Mendez expresses complete loss of respect for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s opponent following his disrespectful remarks!

MMA may be a sport of fierce rivalry, but some lines should never be crossed. The heated feud between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor set new records for UFC viewership. Their clash at UFC 229 wasn’t just a fight – it was a cultural phenomenon.

Before the bout, trash talk and personal attacks flew freely, but most stayed within the unwritten rules of fight promotion. However, what happened after Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, passed away from COVID-19 complications crossed a sacred boundary.

When McGregor made light of late Abdulmanap’s passing, he didn’t just attack a rival’s family; he mocked a man’s grief over losing his father. The Irish fighter remarked on the goodness of the COVID-19 pandemic in the passing of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father. In a now-deleted tweet, this is what he said:

“Covid is good and Father is evil?”

Here’s Conor McGregor continuing to disrespect Khabib’s father, who died last year due to complications fighting covid. Dude stays talking about family then getting his ass beat. pic.twitter.com/OjncBBDSRm
— Ernie The Cowboys Fan (@es3_09) July 27, 2021

This was way off-limits, even for the brash Conor McGregor. Even fierce rivals come to support when a close one passes away. This was evident when Jon Jones texted Daniel Cormier when his father had passed away. He kept the rivalry aside to lend his support to a grieving son. Similarly, Cormier texted Jones to extend his support when Jones’ mother passed away.

Also Read: Islam Makhachev Teases Potential Fight Venue Following UFC 311

What Did Javier Mendez Think Of Conor McGregor’s Comments?

Javier Mendez, known for his usually measured responses and professional demeanor, couldn’t stay quiet. In an interview in 2022, the American Kickboxing Academy head coach didn’t mince words when talking about the comments from Conor McGregor towards Khabib Nurmagomedov’s father.

“I don’t like him [Conor McGregor] because he says things he thinks he is privileged to be able to say, when he said “Covid good Father evil.” I’m sorry but if anybody said that, I don’t care who you are, I lost complete, 100% respect for him.”

Javier Mendez, who guided Khabib Nurmagomedov throughout his undefeated career. And, as someone who worked closely with both Khabib and his father, Mendez witnessed firsthand how Abdulmanap shaped not just his son’s career but his character.

And, as someone who saw first hand the devastation that COVID-19 brought, this comment from McGregor was something he would never let slide!

(Image Credit: akajav -X)

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov

Conor McGregor

Javier Mendez

Khabib Nurmagomedov

UFC

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!