KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV says Conor McGregor could have killed the 50-year-old man he punched in a Dublin pub.
The UFC lightweight champion went on to explain how he feels money and fame has changed McGregor for the worst.
A video surfaced last month showing the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion McGregor punching an old man in the Marble Arch pub in Dublin, Ireland on April 6.
It was reported that the man turned down a free drink from the MMA star.
McGregor went on national TV to apologise for his actions. But Khabib has blasted his old enemy for the assault.
He told BT Sport: "For me I don't like this guy because he punches old people.
"Sometimes when you are hungry you are different, when you have money you are different and you have to control your emotions.
"He is a big star, how can you punch old people when you are one of the best fighters in the world? The guy could have died, if he had gone down he could have died.
POIRIER UP NEXT FOR KHABIB
"This shows how he has changed with money, most crazy things are because of money or fame."
Fame and money, however, is not what Khabib, who defends his belt against Dustin Poirier next, says he is motivated by.
He added: "It's been crazy, what do I need now? I won the belt, I defended my belt; I am famous, and I have money.
"A lot of people ask me why I'm here, but they don't understand what's inside me, this is about fire.
"All my life I have competed with someone and I want to keep doing that.
"I have a big, big fire inside and I want to be the best fighter in the world, not the best fighter from my country, but the best of seven billion people.
"Everywhere I go a lot of people come and take pictures and talk, it's a bit of pressure. Most of the time I don't like it, I don't train to be really famous, I train for fights with the best fighters in the world.
"I wouldn't change anything. What I did I did for a reason, I feel great and it was a great experience for me."
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