Conor McGregor’s friend Dillon Danis deletes tweet about Khabib as star retires after UFC 254 win over Justin Gaethje
CONOR MCGREGOR'S pal Dillon Danis has deleted a tweet about Khabib Nurmagomedov - after the Russian announced his retirement from UFC.
A tearful Khabib retired after completing a stunning second-round stoppage of American Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 in Fight Island.
The 32-year-old Russian completed victory with a triangle choke stoppage, with the American forced to quit.
Welterweight fighter Danis, a close friend of McGregor who trains with the Irishman, had sent out a tweet straight after the fight saying: "Khabib is retiring because he is scared of Conor McGregor”.
But he quickly deleted the message.
That followed a poignant speech from Khabib where he explained he was quitting because of a promise he had made to his mother after the death of his father Abdulmanap earlier this year.
American Danis, 27, had clashed with Khabib before at UFC 229 - so the pair have history.
McGregor, 31, was one of the first to congratulate Khabib on his incredible fight career.
The win left Khabib with an impressive record of 29 wins and no defeats.
Gaethje was actually ahead on the judges' cards before the stoppage.
UFC president Dana White had said post-fight if Khabib beat Gaethje he would move a step closer to being proclaimed the greatest UFC fighter of all time.
McGregor, who had retired, is now set to fight Gaethje in January, possibly in Ireland.
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Notorious and Khabib controversially fought in 2018 when the Russian recorded a shock win.
But that clash descended into controversy when backroom staff of both fighters fought outside the octagon.
It has been an emotional year for Khabib, after the loss of his father - and trainer - to Covid-19.
He said after beating Gaethje: "Thank you to these guys with me, with my father more than 10 years. Coach Jav I love him so much. All my team, thank you.
“Today I want to say this is my last fight. No way am I coming here without my father. When UFC comes to me about Justin I spoke with my mother for three days.
“She didn’t want me to fight without father and I said this is my last fight – and I have given her my word.
“Thank you so much Justin. I know you are great, I know how you take care of your people.
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"Be close with your parents, because you never know what is going to happen tomorrow. Thank you coach, thank you guys. Today is my last fight in the UFC.
“It was my father’s dream. Justin and Conor will fight in January, I have choked both out, I am not interested in this.”
