The fatal mistake that cost Conor his fight with Khabib was revealed after 7 years

In the pantheon of UFC rivalries, few matchups have sparked as much fire, hype, and controversy as Conor McGregor vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. The buildup was intense, the drama unmatched, and the aftermath unforgettable. For years, fans have speculated on what truly led to Conor McGregor‘s defeat in that historic 2018 showdown. Was it Khabib’s dominance? Was it just a bad day for the Irishman? Or was there something deeper behind the scenes?

Now, seven years later, a revelation from an insider—Artem Lobov, a longtime friend and former training partner of McGregor—has shed new light on what might have been the real reason behind one of the most high-profile losses in UFC history. Appearing on the Ariel Helwani Show, Lobov disclosed that McGregor’s defeat wasn’t about skill, but mindset, preparation—or more accurately, the lack of it.

| ARTEM LOBOV: “Conor was training just twice a week. That’s not how you prepare for a beast like Khabib.”

That one sentence cracked open a vault of questions and stirred the MMA community into a storm of renewed analysis.

Post-Mayweather Blues: The Party That Never Ended

To understand what went wrong, we must first look at where McGregor was mentally and professionally in 2018. Just one year before UFC 229, Conor McGregor had stepped into the boxing ring with Floyd Mayweather Jr.—a spectacle that drew global attention and earned the Irish superstar a reported $100 million.

That kind of payday changes people. It certainly changed McGregor. According to Lobov, the fighter who returned to MMA after the Mayweather fight wasn’t the same fierce competitor that ran through the UFC’s featherweight and lightweight divisions.

Instead, Conor came back with a “party mindset.” He had money, fame, and global recognition. The hunger that once pushed him to train relentlessly and visualize every punch, every takedown, every detail—was now dulled by luxury and distractions.

| ARTEM LOBOV: “After the Mayweather fight, I think he just didn’t feel the same drive. It was like fighting was no longer life or death—it was optional.”

The Missing Training Camp

The most staggering revelation from Lobov was that Conor McGregor was only training two times a week in the lead-up to UFC 229. In contrast, elite-level MMA fighters typically train 5–6 days a week, often with multiple sessions per day, during an 8–12 week fight camp. Training includes striking, grappling, wrestling, strength and conditioning, and mental preparation.

Yet Conor, one of the most watched and hyped fighters in the world, walked into the Octagon with Khabib Nurmagomedov—a 26-0 undefeated grappler from Dagestan—with minimal preparation.

Lobov didn’t just witness it. He tried to intervene.

| ARTEM LOBOV: “I told him—man, we need to go to a proper camp, get serious, build the war mindset again. But he brushed it off.”

Could a Full Camp Have Changed Everything?

Lobov pointed to a different version of McGregor—the one who prepared for Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205—as a contrast. Back then, McGregor looked sharp, composed, deadly accurate. He pieced apart Alvarez with precision striking and total confidence, becoming the first simultaneous two-division UFC champion.

| ARTEM LOBOV: “If Conor trained like he did for Alvarez, he could have beaten Khabib. No doubt in my mind.”

That statement is bound to stir debate among fans and experts alike. After all, Khabib Nurmagomedov is widely regarded as one of the most dominant fighters in MMA history. But the idea that McGregor might have had a real shot—if only he had prepared properly—is both haunting and intriguing.

Khabib at His Peak

Let’s not forget the form Khabib was in. By the time UFC 229 arrived, Khabib was 26-0, had just claimed the UFC lightweight title, and was known for his suffocating ground game. In the fight, Khabib executed a masterclass of pressure, wrestling, and control. He dominated Conor from round one and ended the fight with a neck crank submission in the fourth round.

It was clear: Khabib came to make a statement. McGregor, according to Lobov, came to make an appearance.

| ARTEM LOBOV: “Khabib came with war in his eyes. Conor came with champagne still in his system.”

The Psychological Toll of Fame

The psychology of a fighter is a fragile, complex thing. Conor McGregor was no longer the underdog. He had become the face of the UFC, the “Champ-Champ,” the poster boy for modern MMA. Fame brings pressure, but it can also bring complacency.

There’s a famous saying in combat sports: “It’s hard to wake up and train when you’re sleeping in silk sheets.” That adage may have applied to McGregor more than anyone.

From whiskey ventures (Proper Twelve) to fashion shows to promotional tours, McGregor was everywhere—except the gym. Lobov claims that the party lifestyle, the distractions, and the illusion of invincibility all created a false sense of readiness.

From Spotlight to Shadows

After the loss, Conor McGregor’s image began to shift. He was no longer the untouchable king. Legal troubles, out-of-cage altercations, and inconsistent performances followed. Fans questioned his discipline. Critics pointed to arrogance. But until Lobov’s recent confession, few understood just how unprepared he truly was for UFC 229.

Was It Avoidable?

That’s the question that hurts the most: could McGregor have defeated Khabib had he trained properly? The answer is murky.

On one hand, Khabib was dominant. On the other, McGregor’s precision striking, timing, and ability to rise to big occasions have always been his superpowers. Had he sharpened those tools in a dedicated camp, perhaps he could have kept the fight standing longer. Perhaps he could have landed that perfect left hand.

But “perhaps” is the cruelest word in sports.

| ARTEM LOBOV: “He didn’t give himself the best chance. That’s what hurts. Not the loss—but the waste of potential.”

The Legacy Ripple Effect

The fight with Khabib wasn’t just another loss—it was the biggest pay-per-view in UFC history. Over 2.4 million people watched it live. The brawl that broke out afterward made global headlines. The emotions were high. But the long-term impact was even higher.

That loss changed McGregor‘s career trajectory. It halted his momentum. It opened him up to new criticism. It gave fuel to rivals who claimed he was all talk. If McGregor had won that night, the UFC landscape might look very different today.

What Fighters Can Learn

The story of Conor McGregor’s preparation (or lack thereof) for UFC 229 serves as a cautionary tale. Talent alone isn’t enough. Neither is past success. In the fight game, every opponent is dangerous, and every fight must be treated as the biggest one yet.

| ARTEM LOBOV: “You don’t fight Khabib on cruise control. You go all-in or don’t go in at all.”

Why Reveal It Now?

The timing of Lobov’s revelation is significant. With McGregor eyeing a return in late 2025 or 2026, fans and analysts have been debating whether he still “has it.” This insight into the past might be Lobov’s way of clearing the air, or perhaps sending a message—not just to the fans, but to Conor himself.

Train hard. Stay hungry. Or stay home.

Could Redemption Still Come?

Despite the ups and downs, McGregor remains a massive draw. The UFC would love nothing more than a redemptive storyline—a comeback fueled by lessons learned, discipline regained, and hunger reignited.

If McGregor can recapture the mindset that carried him to the top, perhaps we haven’t seen the last of his greatness. But this time, he’ll need more than fast cars, whiskey, and Instagram clout.

He’ll need a real camp. A real grind. A real hunger.

| ARTEM LOBOV: “If there’s one thing I hope he takes from this—it’s that the talent never left. But talent needs fuel. It needs fire. He can still be great. But only if he chooses to be.”

Final Thoughts

The UFC 229 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov was more than just a blemish on Conor McGregor’s record—it was a turning point. Now, seven years later, we finally have a fuller picture of what went wrong. Not in the cage, but long before that.

The true battle wasn’t fought on the canvas of the Octagon, but in the empty gym sessions, the ignored warnings, the missed opportunities to prepare like a champion. Lobov’s revelation has added a new layer to McGregor‘s mythology—a reminder that greatness, once attained, must still be protected with discipline, focus, and humility.

For fighters, fans, and future champions, it’s a lesson that resonates beyond just UFC 229.