Kamaru Usman vs. Conor McGregor for the UFC welterweight title? Usman says it was a chance.
And in keeping with him, McGregor needed no a part of it.
On an episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman’s co-host Henry Cejudo requested the previous champion about feedback not too long ago made by Conor McGregor on a reside Q&A. Usman was proven a clip of McGregor insulting him and disregarding him as a competitor, calling Usman “a bum.”
Usman responded by claiming that in his reign as welterweight champion from 2018-2022, he provided McGregor a shot at his belt and “The Infamous” declined.
“Should you needed the chance to struggle me, I gave Conor two alternatives to struggle me,” Usman stated. “Two alternatives, whereas I used to be champion. I gave him two alternatives to struggle me. I instructed him, ‘Hey, if you need a crack at that third belt, who higher?’ I used to be on the run that I used to be on, who higher that he might come up and struggle. He talked about it, he bounced backwards and forwards, when he needed to make his return he stated, ‘Yeah, possibly I’ll go up and seize the third belt.’
“It’s what it’s, Conor. Should you needed to struggle, you had your alternative, however you didn’t. So to name me a bum is form of disrespectful and I didn’t disrespect you while you have been having your troubles, so I believe it’s generally simpler and it’s better-well, it’s not easier-it’s higher that you just put that whisky bottle down and truly come again to your wits and be a great father and a great function mannequin.”
Throughout Usman’s reign, McGregor spent a lot of his time getting ready for a large crossover boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr., whereas additionally coping with a litany of out of doors the cage points together with a suspension in 2018 after being concerned in a post-fight brawl following a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 and two allegations of sexual assault in 2019.
Usman efficiently defended his title 5 instances earlier than dropping it to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022. He stated that he has no drawback with fighters issuing private assaults to promote fights, however outdoors of promotion he doesn’t perceive the necessity for pointless beef.
“Should you’re making an attempt to promote a struggle, reserve it for that,” Usman stated. “Do what it’s good to do to promote a struggle. As a result of I’ve been in among the most tumultuous fights there was. I fought Colby Covington, who left nothing within the kitchen when it got here to selling that struggle, and he did. He stated all the things he wanted to say. He cursed me, he stated one thing about my household, one thing about my daughter, he stated all the things that he wanted to say. However on the finish of the day I understood that it was about him selling the struggle and we went in there and we settled it. Conor and I don’t have a struggle on the desk.
“What it’s good to be nervous about is Michael Chandler as a result of Michael Chandler’s coaching. Conor, it’s good to put that whisky bottle down and it’s good to get to coaching. This isn’t the time, this doesn’t name for you trolling. Why are you trolling me? I’ve nothing to do with you. Once I was champion, I gave you a chance and also you declined. You went silent. You didn’t say a phrase.”
Usman went on to name McGregor’s behavior of diminishing different fighters’ accomplishments “disgraceful.” He warned that McGregor, who turns 36 in July, must be absolutely targeted for his return to the cage when he fights Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29.
If McGregor is off his sport, Usman predicts a knockout win for Chandler.
“I’m no hater, I’m a realist,” Usman stated. “Conor—Effectively, Conor McGregor that we grew to know and like on this sport and revered within the sport of martial arts has actual ability, and if that Conor McGregor in some way emerges once more, it’s a troublesome evening for nearly anyone in his weight division.
“However Michael Chandler is the true deal. We noticed that Michael Chandler places fingers on you, likelihood is you may get up asking what occurred. So if Conor’s not ready and he goes in there enjoying round, Michael Chandler will—They may need to deliver some smelling salts for [McGregor] in that struggle.”
Trending Merchandise
