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The One Word Which Kicked Off The Whole Khabib-Conor McGregor Feud

The One Word Which Kicked Off The Whole Khabib-Conor McGregor Feud

McGregor's teammate Lobov has revealed the one word which sparked the feud.

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Artem Lobov, who played a central role in Conor McGregor's rivalry with Khabib Nurmagomedov, has revealed the one word which sparked the whole feud.

When Nurmagomedov confronted Lobov prior to UFC 223 in Brooklyn, chaos ensued.

McGregor subsequently flew out to the States and attacked a bus carrying fighters including Nurmagomedov.

And it appears the initial confrontation began because of a single word.

"It might not sound very serious to you guys, but just so you know, 'chicken' is one of the biggest insults you can give a man in Russia," Lobov explained via MMAjunkie. "In fact, if you call someone a chicken in Russia, that is a person that gets raped in prison - in male prison."

Image: PA
Image: PA
Image: PA
Image: PA

The Irish-based Russian fighter added: "That's what a chicken is in Russia. And Khabib knows that, and everybody knows that. It is a very, very, severe insult.

"Of course, me knowing the severity of this insult, I had to respond in a hard way.

"And I think anybody would've done the same. If I didn't do that, then what kind of friend am I? You know what I mean?

"Of course, my response was pretty harsh, but I spoke facts. I talked about Khabib himself pulling out of fights all the time and the fact that Conor has never pulled out. And I said how could he call him a chicken when he's the one pulling out all the time but Conor has never pulled out?

"Look, it was a harsh response, but given the situation, I thought it was an appropriate response. And I didn't see how I could not respond that way.

"And to be honest, if I was asked 100 times in the same interview the same question, my response would've been the same, even knowing what has happened since then."

Meanwhile, following their post-fight brawl at UFC 229, the Nevada State Athletic Commission have extended Nurmagomedov and McGregor's ban pending another investigation.

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Topics: Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor Mcgregor, Artem Lobov, UFC News, UFC