Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager fuels Conor McGregor injury conspiracy theory

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager accuses UFC of hiding Conor McGregor’s injury

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s longtime manager, Mairbek Taisumov, claimed on 18 Jul 2026 that UFC officials and Conor McGregor’s team concealed a serious injury that forced McGregor to postpone his planned return. The allegation comes just weeks after McGregor’s camp announced another delay to his next fight, this time citing unspecified “personal reasons.”

What did Khabib Nurmagomedov’s manager say?

Taisumov, who has worked with Nurmagomedov since his early Dagestani career, posted on social media that McGregor’s team knew about the injury months ago. “They had the medical reports but chose to hide it,” Taisumov wrote. “Now the whole world sees why he keeps getting pulled from fights.” The post included no medical documentation, only a screenshot of a news headline about McGregor’s latest delay.

Why this matters for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legacy

Nurmagomedov retired in 2020 with a 29-0 record and never faced McGregor, though the two were long linked as potential superfights. Taisumov’s claim resurfaces old tensions between Nurmagomedov’s team and McGregor’s camp, including past barbs about McGregor’s pre-fight antics. The timing also reignites debates over fighter transparency in the UFC, where injury disclosures often spark skepticism.

What happens next for McGregor and the UFC?

McGregor’s next bout, originally set for June 2026, was pushed to September after he withdrew citing “personal matters.” Dana White, UFC president, told reporters on 17 Jul 2026 that the promotion expects McGregor to fight this year. White added: “We’ll see who shows up.” Taisumov’s post did not mention whether Nurmagomedov or his team plan to respond further.

The conspiracy theory adds another layer to McGregor’s stop-start career, which has seen multiple cancellations since his 2021 return. Fighters and analysts have previously questioned the UFC’s handling of injury announcements, including cases where bouts were scrapped with little clarity. Taisumov’s accusation-though unproven-aligns with past criticisms of McGregor’s camp over transparency.