UFC News: Conor McGregor Mocks Khabib Nurmagomedov For 'Scurrying Away'

Conor McGregor reignited his rivalry with arch-nemesis Khabib Nurmagomedov ahead of his UFC 257 showdown against Dustin Poirier on Jan. 23 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

The Irishman is keen for a rematch after going down via a fourth-round submission when he faced Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 over two years ago.

Though the former two-division UFC champion remains focused on his cage encounter versus Poirier next weekend, McGregor stepped back a bit from the fight and took a swipe at the Russian for calling it a career.

McGregor admitted that he was not surprised Nurmagomedov ‘scurried away’ from the sport after his win over Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 last October.

“How you could walk away at this stage is baffling to me but to each to their own,” McGregor told The Mac Life, as quoted on MMA Fighting.

“There are so many amazing fights out there. Even the carry-on around the Tony [Ferguson] situation, like I don’t care about nothing. You’re scheduled to fight a man. No matter what. Fights must take place. You can’t just scurry away from bouts," he added. “It’s been the hallmark of his approach. I was not surprised to see him walk away or scurry away, I should say. It is what it is. We carry on."

While McGregor was hoping his clash against Poirier will be for the 155-pound title, Dana White has made it clear that it is not.

Nurmagomedov remains the lightweight champion despite his retirement. The UFC president is determined to convince him to return and defend it in a rematch with McGregor.

However, "The Notorious" feels that the UFC should have put a title on the line in his upcoming fight.

“I feel it should be [for the title],” McGregor said. “I don’t think Dana’s going to be bouncing in to throw me a belt straight away with the way the year went and I understand that. What are the belts? I’m here to compete. Get some good competition in and the belts will come.”

“I’m not going to get caught up in the politics of this business," he continued. "I have in the past and it’s hampered me. So we focus on the bout ahead and that’s it.”