The buildup for UFC 302 has taken a controversial turn as Conor McGregor’s recent allegations against UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev have added another level of drama to clash week. Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier after two consecutive successful defenses against Alexander Volkanovski.
“The Notorious,” who will make his UFC return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29, could be lining himself up for a future title shot against the winner of the Makhachev vs. Poirier bout. However, his latest comments have taken some of the focus away from the bouts.
McGregor made controversial tweets about Makhachev
Photos released by the UFC ahead of UFC 302 showed a possible bruise to Makhachev’s left leg and possibly a staph infection. McGregor referenced the alleged staph infection in two tweets, accusing the Russian of planning to fight with an infection.
The Irishman tweeted, “Staph again. This inbred lives with Staph. This team has infections, make no mistake. Scruff balls/ whatever you all are into, I suppose. He still subs Dustin in the 1st.”
His another tweet said, “You are absolute scruffy f**cks I’m sick of yous. Wash yourself ! Wash your clothes ! Wash your mats! And do it everyday you scruffy c**ts.”
So far, there is no concrete evidence that Makhachev is dealing with a staph infection ahead of the upcoming event. Still McGregor’s allegations have fueled speculation among fans and pundits.
The Notorious predicts Poirier’s victory in upcoming bout
This controversy comes after a similar situation two months ago, when Benoit St-Denis fought Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 despite suffering from a staph infection. “The Diamond” won that fight by knockout in the second round. Conor McGregor’s latest comments continue his trash talk and pattern of attacking not only Makhachev but Khabib Nurmagomedov and the Dagestan community. Whether or not Makhachev is actually affected by staph is uncertain, but McGregor’s inflammatory comments have gone viral on social media, creating additional tension and anticipation heading into UFC 302.
Also Read: Dustin Poirier’s take on the McGregor vs Chandler clash at UFC 303
McGregor previously predicted that Poirier would defeat Makhachev in the upcoming UFC 302 main event. Conor McGregor has a great history with both fighters and expressed his belief that Poirier has the upper hand in the upcoming bout. The former UFC champion has fought Dustin three times and has a huge rivalry with Makhachev’s coach, Khabib. He pointed out Makhachev’s weakness recently in a live stream and stated that the Russian often gets staggered early in bouts and is prone to falling to shots. He pointed out that Makhachev has been knocked out by southpaw’s back check hook before, which is one of Poirier’s strengths.
