Irish boxer Jono Carroll has fired back at Conor McGregor after the former UFC champion referred to him as a 'carpet licker' following his conversion to Islam.

Carroll, 32, criticized McGregor's remarks, saying the fighter should be "ashamed" and expressing disappointment in someone he once admired. Carroll, who described his decision to embrace Islam as "a long time coming," previously shared images of himself in a white robe while visiting Mecca.

Taking to Instagram, Carroll wrote, "Imagine looking up to someone as a kid, only for them to insult you for praying to God with your head to the ground. McGregor should be ashamed, not just for disrespecting Islam but for his own sake. Islam has made me a better man, and I truly hope he finds peace as I have."

He continued, "Inshallah, one day you’ll find your way. I already forgive you and pray for you and your family. You need rehab, brother—if not for yourself, at least for your family."

Carroll also referenced former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who defeated McGregor in 2018, adding, "I’m glad my brother Khabib, a real man, taught you a lesson for pretending to be tough."

'But you weren't too brave tapping out when it was just the 2 of you in that cage where you???'

The latest development comes days after the McGregor used racial slurs in a now-deleted furious tirade on social media aimed at Nurmagomedov. 

The pair have a long-standing rivalry, with Nurmagomedov having beaten McGregor at UFC 229 in 2018.

The 36-year-old referenced a tweet he posted in 2019 in which he told the devout Muslim: 'Your wife is a towel mate.'

McGregor also pointed out that the tweet was only up for 15 minutes. Following that, McGregor then hit out in a rant which included racial slurs and also referenced Nurmagomedov's father, who passed away in 2020.

McGregor wrote: '15 minutes I done aldo 15 seconds.

'Show yo wife n****. Show yo kids n****. Cousin f***** motherf***** hidin mother******. Show us you and your cousins kids together because we have kids here in Ireland that wanna smoke them in competition.

'Are they competing or what are you saying Ireland vs Dagestan? Where's your offspring, we cant wait to see them . The best of Dagestan offspring ? Dagestan, what do we think? Is this true ?

'Who's next cos fatso with the coach whistle won't fight. Who the f*** designated this fat b**** as master father? Certainly not his own father. Abdulmanap.

'And they all know it in Dagestan. Dagestan think you are p**** lips for retiring. Real Dagestan is forever.

'You are laughed at behind your back in Dagestan. Lazy you are, they say. Fight me and make a 100 million dollars and give it to the entire village of Dagestan! But you won't, why? Fat lazy scared b****. Lazy fasto.'

McGregor subsequently deleted his post.

The unhinged behavior continued into the weekend as he was filmed spitting in the face of a member of the public who showed their support for Nurmagomedov.

Source: The Mail