McGregor wants to fight Khabib again, but won't chase 2018 conqueror.

ABU DHABI -- Former two-weight Ultimate Fighting Championship winner Conor McGregor would love to avenge his loss to the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov but has said he will not pursue a rematch after a bad-tempered 2018 title clash that erupted into a mass brawl between the camps.

Nurmagomedov's father died due to complications from Covid-19 last year and, following a spectacular submission win over Justin Gaethje that extended his professional record to 29 wins and no defeats, the Dagestani said he was retiring after promising his mother he would not fight again.

Irishman McGregor, speaking at a media conference at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi where he faces American Dustin Poirier in a lightweight bout on Sunday (Jan 24), showed none of the brashness that made him famous as he addressed the chances of a rematch. "It's a tough business, he (Nurmagomedov) has things going on in his personal life. I don't wish him any harm. It was in 2018, a lot of time has passed, the world knows this fight is not over. The sport needs it...