Conor McGregor has taken another troubling shot at Irish UFC star Paul Hughes, this time involving a machine gun. The Irish fighter, now 36, was set to make his long-awaited UFC return in June 2024 against Michael Chandler, marking his first bout in nearly three years. However, just weeks before the UFC 303 main event, a toe injury forced McGregor to withdraw. Then in January this year, his future in combat sports became even more cloudy after a 49-year-old woman launched a lawsuit against the Irish star claiming he sexually assaulting her after an NBA Finals game in 2023.

In the meantime, Sydney-born Paul Hughes has been making a name for himself representing Ireland in the Professional Fighters League. Hughes recently earned global attention after his narrow Bellator title defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov's cousin, Usman. McGregor posted a video showing himself firing a machine gun with a pointed message for rising MMA star Paul Hughes. McGregor has launched a host of attacks on Irish star Hughes that have since been deleted.

Hughes has called on McGregor to apologise to the people of Northern Ireland for his comments. That led McGregor to go scorched earth on the Irishman, questioning his Northern Ireland upbringing and calling him a traitor in a series of since-deleted social media posts. 'Get that flag off you you little know what you are c*** from up there,' McGregor posted. Now he has posted a video of him appearing to be firing a machine gun at a range with a fresh tirade for Hughes.

'YOU BUM, LICK A***, TURN COAT, BOOTLICKIN' MOTHERF*****S, OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND EAT THIS LEAD,' McGregor posted. The post stunned UFC fans who questioned McGregor's sanity over his recent social media activity. 'Better chance of Conor getting drafted than fighting ever again,' one follower posted. 'Bros legit losing his mind in front of us,' added another. 'All because Paul Hughes done what he couldn't and then was respectful to his opponent afterwards,' posted yet another.

McGregor is also facing a lawsuit in the United States over sexual assault allegations. However others were quick to defend McGregor and said his antics were all in good fun. 'The man has pushed beyond his boundaries of your entertainment. He's simply enjoying his life, watch and learn,' one fan posted in his defence. 'If I had that money I'd be partying and having fun too lol life's too short,' added another.

Hughes himself has been restrained in his reponses to McGregor's attacks, but said Northern Ireland locals would not be happy. He doesn't want an apology, but said the people from Derry - where he grew up - would want him to say sorry. 'Not right now, anyway. More so not for me, but more so for my people, from where I come from,' Hughes said. 'I kind of just realised when scrolling Twitter before coming on here, probably not the best idea, that it's probably one of the worst possible things you could say to a fellow Irishman in terms of how deeply insulting it can be.