UFC's Khamzat Chimaev Responds to Conor McGregor: I'll 'Smash Your Face'

UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev is prepared to fight Conor McGregor anywhere, anytime. 

During an interview with TMZ Sports, Chimaev said "send me" the location for the fight and he'll "come and smash your face." He added that he could dispatch McGregor in the first round in the event they met inside the Octagon.

Perhaps McGregor will answer the challenge, but Chimaev shouldn't get his hopes up. 

The former featherweight and lightweight champion retired from MMA in June. He has made similar proclamations in the past, only to reverse course and put the gloves back on.

McGregor has done nothing to indicate a return is on the horizon this time around. UFC president Dana White entertained the notion of another comeback in an interview with CNN but acknowledged "Conor McGregor is retired."

However, that hasn't stopped the 32-year-old from being his usual outspoken self. In a since-deleted comment on Instagram, he called Chimaev "rat lip."

It's not the first time McGregor has drawn Chimaev's honor.

The unbeaten fighter explained to Russian journalist Adam Zubayraev (h/t Nolan King of MMA Junkie) how he had taken exception to comments McGregor made about Khabib Nurmagomedov and Chechens in general. He traveled to Ireland to confront McGregor personally:

"Honestly speaking, I wanted to beat him up. Many people thought I was coming there to help him to prepare for Khabib. … Not only for Khabib. I was coming there to protect our pride and honor. I was going there for all of us. If that would not have happened, I would have maybe thrown, I don’t know, some object. … I think I was able to stand for myself."

Chimaev is quickly making a name for himself. He made his UFC debut with a second-round victory over John Phillips on July 15 and then earned a first-round TKO of Rhys McKee 10 days later. Both were dominant showings.

Even if McGregor were to end his retirement, Chimaev probably isn't a big enough star yet to command what would be one of UFC's biggest fights of the year.

You can't blame him for trying, though.