Khabib Nurmagomedov: Conor McGregor 'finished' after loss to Dustin Poirier

Retired UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn't believe Conor McGregor will return to the top of mixed martial arts following his UFC 264 loss to Dustin Poirier. 

Nurmagomedov told ESPN's Brett Okamoto that McGregor is good for promotion, but he won't ever be the same fighter after breaking his leg in Saturday's loss to Poirier. 

"Without broken legs, yes, [he could be the same]," Nurmagomedov said. "But with broken legs, he's never going to kick the same. With him, no, I don't believe [he'll return to the top]. Conor have good age [32], but what happened with his mind, legs -- this guy is finished, but he's good for promotion."

McGregor underwent a three-hour-long surgery on his broken leg earlier this week and later said the operation went "excellent" and that he was feeling "tremendous." His manager Audie Attar expressed confidence that his client would "make a full recovery."

According to ESPN's Marc Raimondi, UFC president Dana White said that McGregor and Poirier would likely meet for a fourth time once McGregor is healthy. 

Nurmagomedov believes McGregor will be matched up against either Poirier or Nate Diaz in his next bout. However, he expects the Irishman to lose either of those matchups. 

Some around UFC believe McGregor is closer to retirement after Saturday's loss, so it's unclear if a fourth bout will ever take place.