Paul Hughes calls the comments of Conor McGregor “incredibly disrespectful”, but he is no longer the same guy as “we once knew”

Like most Irish fighters, Paul Hughes came by admiring Conor McGregor and the attention he paid in his country of origin after having undoubtedly become the biggest star of combat sports.

But in recent times, McGregor has become much more synonymous with what he says during interviews, press conferences and on social networks than his fights. His latest appearance occurred in July 2021 when he suffered a horrible broken leg in a fight against Dustin Poirier. More recently, McGregor has made a viral tirade on Twitter which targeted Hughes after the show of the PFL made respect for the USMAN NURMADOVOP opponent and its coach Khabib Nurmagomedov after a battle of five rounds which could be one The best fights of the year.

McGregor insulted Hughes for comments he made in the cage, then called to question his Irish identity because the 27 -year -old is from Northern Ireland, which raises a lot of history and violence for this part of the world.

“It was obviously a very extreme point of view that he was taking,” said Hughes to MMA fighting on McGregor’s comments. “Obviously an incredibly disrespectful.

“This is probably the most disrespectful thing you can say to an Irish colleague is that he is not Irish simply because I come from the north of the country.”

Hughes represents Ireland as his native nation while transporting the country’s flag with him in the cage, which is exactly what McGregor has targeted in the comments now deleted on social networks.

“Remove this flag from you,” wrote McGregor. “You don’t know what you’re up there.”

As much as he despised what McGregor said, Hughes admits that he really does not take as much offense given the source.

“Look how I spoke a few times now, I haven’t taken it very personally,” said Hughes. “Because unfortunately, it is not the conor that we once knew. So people say, “Is it difficult to hear this from someone you admired?” I take it in a way with a pinch of salt for this reason. It’s like that. I was not distraught from what he said, I said it like that.

“Unfortunately, it seems that it is no longer the same person). I certainly hope that it will not remain like that. I wish all the best.

Much of McGregor’s anger apparently stems from the respect that Hughes has shown the Nurmagomedov family in the cage. Hughes made sure to tell them that he is his own man and “not like this other guy” as an obvious reference to the former UFC champion.

McGregor rarely lacks an opportunity to stir up the flames of its disdain towards the group of Dagdetan fighters after having undergone a loss of submission of fourth round to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in 2018. While Khabib moved from this fight and Finally retired as UFC light weight in 2018. Champion with a perfect record of 29-0, McGregor again the trash speaks it whenever the occasion arises.

But Hughes does not have McGregor as a teammate or close personal friend. He was not connected to this rivalry. And he sees no reason to be trained in it now.

“This is not the case,” replied Hughes when asked if McGregor’s problems with the Nurmagomedov family had suddenly become his problem. “You then saw after the fight the mutual respect we had. Everyone left, it was good. We had a five round, we sold the place, we fought very hard and we have mutual respect for each other after martial arts should be.

“I understand things how the story was trying to be pushed and I understand that. I understand from the point of view of marketing and at the end of the day, I was the one who first found Ireland against the Dagean 2. I created this story and it was a good marketing I think . This does not mean that there must be an extreme personal hatred. For me, it’s competition and that’s always what it was for me.

It doesn’t matter how much McGregor hated Hughes Hughes shake the hand of Khabib and Usman Nurmagomedov after their fight, Hughes will not change his attitude simply because he upset the most famous fighter in his country of origin.

Hughes wants nothing more now than avenge his loss against Usman in a revenge match, but it’s nothing personal between them. He will keep professional things and let McGregor simply speak for himself.

“Look of course that there is mutual respect there,” said Hughes. “I respect anyone on the planet that enters this cage obtains my respect, whatever the level in which it is. Now, of course, if you are a prosperous athlete where I am, I know what it takes to get there and I know the sacrifices you need (pass) to get here. I have respect for all these guys.