Khabib turned down opportunity to coach TUF 29 vs. Conor McGregor, says Dana White

Last week, former UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor leaked some direct messages between himself and UFC president Dana White amidst a dispute around contracts, pay, and, according to White, McGregor’s avoidance of certain fights.

According to White, these leaks may have had more consequences than initially imagined.

In an interview with Barstool Sports, White has claimed that before the direct message leaks, lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov had agreed to coach Season 29 of “The Ultimate Fighter” opposite McGregor.

“He was going to do it until Conor did all of this [expletive], said White. “Conor blew that… Yeah, Khabib said [expletive] him.”

It is unclear what is White’s contingency plan for TUF 29 now that Nurmagomedov vs. McGregor is no longer an option, but the series will begin later this year.