Conor McGregor posts cryptic message after Paul Hughes vs Usman Nurmagomedov
Paul Hughes was beaten by Usman Nurmagomedov in their rematch
Conor McGregor seemed to take another jab at Paul Hughes following the Derry native's defeat to Usman Nurmagomedov on Friday night.
Belfast-based Hughes experienced his second loss to the Russian this year in Dubai, with Nurmagomedov declared the winner by unanimous decision after another five-round bout. However, the scoring of the match sparked controversy online.
Shortly after the fight, McGregor posted on X: "Fart in the wind."
The Dubliner swiftly deleted the tweet, but many believed it was a dig at Hughes, whom the former two-weight UFC champion criticised after his first loss to Nurmagomedov, cousin of McGregor's long-standing rival Khabib, in January.
McGregor seemed to question Hughes' Irish identity because he hails from north of the border, writing at the time: "Get that flag off you, you little know what you are c*** from up there.", reports the Irish Mirror.
He followed this with another provocative remark, stating: "Up the real Irish. F*** these vermin f***s."
This came after Hughes was seen telling Khabib: "I'm not like this other guy. I'm my own man."
In an interview with The Irish Mirror before his rematch with Nurmagomedov, Hughes said he took McGregor's comments "with a pinch of salt".
"There's nothing more disrespectful to say to an Irishman than you're not Irish," Hughes remarked. "I mean it doesn't get any worse than that.
"But I take it with a pinch of salt. I don't believe it's the same Conor that we once knew so I don't view him as the same guy and don't take it that personally.
"I think he's obviously unfortunately got some issues there. It is what it is. The comments were made, I don't think about it too much to be honest. I'm past it."