Paul Hughes says Conor McGregor’s comments questioning his Irish identity were "unbelievably disrespectful" but he also took it all with a grain of salt because he doesn’t believe that’s the same person he grew up idolizing.

The controversy ignited when Hughes seemingly sought to distance himself from McGregor by assuring Khabib Nurmagomedov he was "not like this other guy"

Paul Hughes doesn't expect to reconcile with Conor McGregor anytime soon. Like many Irish fighters, Hughes looked up to the former UFC two-division champion. Up until his title fight against Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov at PFL Champions Series: Road

McGregor, surrounded by security guards, then turns around and approaches the man in question. The Irishman, 36, appears to spit in the man’s face, before saying: “I spit in your face, what do you do? Nothing. I spit in your face.” The Independent has approached McGregor and his management team for comment.

Conor McGregor and a fan of his former rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, got into a heated altercation while the former UFC champ was on a leisure walk.