Conor McGregor has spoken out to reveal his dream fightCredit: AP

McGregor, 35, responded: “Khabib. He is fighting’s biggest chicken.”

The former two-weight champion was involved in one of the UFC’s ugliest feuds with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

But it ended in bitter defeat in their 2018 grudge match, which sold a UFC record 2.4million pay-per-views.

Despite the allure of a blockbuster rematch, those hopes ended in 2020 when Nurmagomedov announced a shock retirement.

The unbeaten Russian had just defeated Justin Gaethje which came just months after the death of his dad and mentor Abdulmanap.

Nurmagomedov promised his mother he would not fight on any further following Abdulmanap’s passing.

And that meant McGregor and the UFC’s plans to rematch him were all but over.

Nurmagomedov, 35, has since claimed he was offered a staggering $40million (£32.7m) to return to the octagon.

He told Daniel Cormier: “When you’re the best fighter in the world, when you’re strong enough, when you’re famous, it’s very hard to say no to all these things.

“It’s very hard, it’s not easy. It’s not easy just saying no to 20, 30, 40 million dollars.

“But for myself, it’s not everything. This is not most important. It was not an easy decision.

“But if I decide, I decide, it’s finished. I leave this alone, I’m happy and I never regret my decision, never.”

Khabib Nurmagomedov beat McGregor in 2018Credit: Sportsfile – Subscription