KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV’S ex-coach predicted Conor McGregor will lose to Dustin Poirier again and admitted: ‘I never want him to win’.
McGregor, who initially beat Poirier in 2014, was knocked out by the American in January.
Conor McGregor rematches Dustin Poirier on July 10[/caption]
It has set up a blockbuster trilogy decider on July 10 in Las Vegas as the lightweight pair headline UFC 264.
Javier Mendez, who cornered Nurmagomedov in his wins over both McGregor and Poirier, hopes for a repeat result.
He told his former fighter Mike Swick: “I’m gonna go with Dustin because I like Dustin and I’m not a fan of Conor.
“I can never be a fan of Conor. I’m never a fan of his, never. I never want him to win so it is what it is.
“He doesn’t want my guys to win I don’t want him to win. Tough, it is what it is. I’m going with Dustin.
“A lot because I think he can do it. But also because I don’t like the other guy.”
McGregor, 32, was involved in one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history with Nurmagomedov, also 32.
He was beaten by the former unbeaten lightweight champion in 2018.
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But a post-fight brawl spilled out after the grudge match, which sold a UFC record 2.4million pay-per-view buys.
Despite McGregor’s lobbying, a rematch never came to fruition after Nurmagomedov retired last October.
And after the Irishman was stopped on his return to the octagon in January, it failed to convince 29-0 Khabib to make a comeback.
Nurmagomedov hung up the gloves after beating Justin Gaethje, 32, the first fight after the death of his father and influential mentor Abdulmanap.
That night, the Russian nullified the leg kicks coming his way from Gaethje, but McGregor was unable to do the same in his loss to Poirier.
Mendez urged the former two-weight champ to avoid making the same mistake when he fights to get his UFC career back on track.
Khabib beat UFC rival Conor McGregor in 2018[/caption]
Conor McGregor was knocked out by Dustin Poirier in January[/caption]
He said: “If we see the same, if Conor’s leg gets, you know, again. In that scenario again.
“OK, well some of you guys aren’t doing your job right because that shouldn’t happen again.
“You should have been aware of that and if you’re not aware of it then shame on you. It shouldn’t happen again. It should not happen again.
“When Khabib fought Justin Gaethje, when that bout was brought up, I really looked at the whole thing.
“I told Khabib, ‘OK, Justin’s coming for your leg – I understand you’re going to have a lot going on but I need you to focus on that because that’s the only way I see him being able to potentially get you.
“I’m not saying he’ll get you but that’s gonna be his number one go to weapon.’”
