The eyes of the world were on the events at the Luzhniki Stadium over the weekend. But as well as France and Croatia playing out the world cup final there was another interesting coming together. Conor McGregor attended the match as a guest of Russian leader Vladimir Putin and even posed for photo's with his arm around him. While Khabib was pictured in a different area watching the match from a VIP box.
Source Conor watching the game
While there have been no reports of the pair crossing paths it is interesting that they were both within the same stadium. The last time that happened was the infamous events prior to UFC 223 where Conor attacked the bus Khabib was onboard with a dolly. On that day Conor was foaming at the mouth eager to get his hands on Khabib while afterwards Khabib gave a chilling message asking for Conor to tell him a location and he would meet up with him. All this lead to concerns about how the UFC would ever manage to keep them apart if a fight between the two would ever be set up.
Source Khabib also at the game
There are hints that the fight may be close to happening. Just yesterday before the world cup final Conor posted a video of himself in Russia and walking down a road surrounded by security. He accompanied the video with the caption "My Russian compound is taking shape.". Conor has in the past had training facilities built ahead of major fights and it could be a hint that he is having one set up ahead of a possible fight in Russia.
Conor isn't the only one posting messages on Instagram. Khabib posted a much less subtle video of him hammering down blows on a dummy at the gym with the message asking the UFC to set up a fight. He doesn't name Conor but it's pretty clear that is who he wants.
Dana White was recently questioned about this fight happening and said Conor would need to sort out the legal fallout from the bus incident before they would engage in talks. But it is a fight that surely has to happen at some point and when it does it will be huge!