Conor McGregor in X-rated jibe at UFC rivals Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov
CONOR McGREGOR blasted rivals Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov, saying: “These fools pull out more times than I do with my d***.”
The Irishman has been accused of ducking fights with the duo - who he claims are perennially injured.
And upon hearing that Ferguson was withdrawing through injury from his lightweight title fight with Nurmagomedov at UFC 233 in Brooklyn, McGregor took aim on Twitter.
His message had tens of thousands of retweets and likes within an hour of it being posted.
UFC president Dana White has confirmed that Ferguson sustained a knee injury and needs surgery.
Instead featherweight champion Max Holloway will face Khabib instead with less than a week's notice.
The fight will be for McGregor’s lightweight belt, with the Irishman being stripped of his title as soon as the fight begins.
White told ESPN: “He actually tore it off the bone, he’s gonna need surgery on his knee.
“Tony is out. He’s hurt his knee. Tony Ferguson is injured, but the beautiful thing about this sport — the stud, 145-pound champion Max Holloway is going to step up and face Khabib this Saturday in Brooklyn, New York, and it is for the official 155-pound title.”
A distraught Ferguson added: “Words can’t express how hurt, frustrated, angry and in disbelief I am right now.
“As I was completing my UFC pre-fight media obligations on Friday I had an accident on a studio set that tore my ligament in my knee.
“My doctor and the UFC doctor both said I can’t fight and one is saying I need surgery, so I will see a specialist to make the final determination on how I can heal up and get back in there to defend my belt ASAP.
“I want to apologise to all the fans, the UFC, Khabib, my teammates, my coaches, my friends and most importantly my family."
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White says McGregor could be in line to face the winner in a potential September scrap.
White added: “As soon as these guys step in the ring and throw a punch, it’s on for the title.
“Whoever wins, wins the title and we’ll see what happens with Conor over the next several months. I know he had expressed some interest in fighting in September.”