Conor McGregor has responded to Khabib Nurmagomedov's message to him after his shock loss to Dustin Poirier.
His bitter rival rubbed salt in the wounds as he criticised McGregor in the aftermath of his UFC 257 loss at Abu Dhabi.
And when asked by reporters in the post-fight interview about the Russian's message, McGregor hit back at Khabib.
He said: "My team has been the team since day one, I've not changed anything.
"It is what it is, respect the athletes - and that's the character of the man behind the mask.
"What does he want to do? Does he want to come back or not?".
Nurmagomedov hit out at his bitter rival following his surprise KO defeat.
McGregor was sensationally stopped in the second round of the lightweight showdown to throw his future in doubt in Abu Dhabi.
The Dubliner targeted a rematch with Nurmagomedov later this year and had hoped to put in a strong performance to lure the Russian out of retirement.
And in the aftermath, Khabib had a message for McGregor as the world reacted to the shock result.
Nurmagomedov said: "This is what happens, when you change your team, leave the sparring partners who made you a champion and sparring with little kids, far away from reality."
But McGregor vowed to dust himself off and go again.
A competitive fight in the first round, vicious calf kicks signalled the beginning of the end for McGregor as he was put on the back foot.
And pressed against the cage, Poirier was able to tee off on McGregor until a lovely left hook floored McGregor as the referee stepped in to end it.
