Conor McGregor slammed for 'coming for' compatriot Paul Hughes' 'Irish identity' in now-deleted social media jibe after Usman Nurmagomedov loss
Conor McGregor slammed for 'coming for' compatriot Paul Hughes' 'Irish identity' in now-deleted social media jibe after Usman Nurmagomedov loss
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An Irish MMA star has insisted that Conor McGregor questioned his Irish identity in a social media spat. Paul Hughes, 27, trains out of Belfast but is from Derry and has risen through the ranks in Bellator, earning a world title shot earlier than expected before coming up short.
![[Paul Hughes appeared to mock countryman McGregor after his Bellator fight at the weekend]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/18/94649469-14339251-image-a-3_1738175963790.jpg)
He was beaten by Usman Nurmagomedov in the bout, a Russian fighter who is the younger cousin of ex-UFC star Khabib - one of McGregor's arch rivals from his career. After the fight, Hughes told the Nurmagomedov team that he has always respected them, distancing himself from McGregor by saying: 'I'm not like this other guy, I'm my own man,' seemingly in reference to McGregor.
![[Hughes lost to Usman Nurmagomedov (right), the younger brother of MMA legend Khabib]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/18/94649459-14339251-image-a-4_1738175968411.jpg)
McGregor then hit back on social media, posting: 'Get that flag off you you little know what you are **** form up there,' before swiftly deleting the message. Hughes responded: 'Always said u were the goat, paid homage at every opportunity. But coming for my Irish identity just shows where you head is at.'.
![[Hughes took to social media to fire back at McGregor after the MMA star's social media words]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/18/94649555-14339251-image-m-8_1738176148674.jpg)
Conor MCGregor has ignited a feud with a fellow MMA star after 'coming for' his Irish 'identity'. Paul Hughes appeared to mock countryman McGregor after his Bellator fight at the weekend. Hughes lost to Usman Nurmagomedov (right), the younger brother of MMA legend Khabib.
![[McGregor has a long history with the Nurmagomedov family, losing against Khabib in 2018]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/29/18/94649453-14339251-image-a-5_1738175971298.jpg)
McGregor's future is unclear, with the 36-year-old inactive in UFC since 2021 and recent links suggesting he could be set to fight Logan Paul in the near future. He also recently lost a civil case in which he was accused of rape at a Dublin hotel in 2018.
