Usman: 'It wouldn't even be fair if I fought' McGregor
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman doesn't think a fight with Conor McGregor would be remotely competitive.
Usman brushed off the potential matchup when asked about the Irishman's recent cryptic tweet that hinted McGregor may want to make a title run at 170 pounds.
"He must want to die. I mean, like, what? He must want to die," Usman told TMZ Sports. "I mean, this is not 145, 155 ... You saw what Khabib (Nurmagomedov) did to him. Oh my God. It wouldn't even be fair if I fought Conor.
"Much respect to Conor for what he's done for the sport and transcended it, but ... this ain't what you want. Just sit down little man, sit down. Learn to walk before you can run because I would hurt that guy."
McGregor, a former lightweight and featherweight champ, sent a tweet Sunday morning that listed three weight classes: 145, 155, and 170.
145. 155. 170.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 15, 2019
"The Notorious," who has been out of action since an October 2018 loss to lightweight champ Nurmagomedov, is scheduled to return against Donald Cerrone in a welterweight bout at UFC 246 on Jan. 18. McGregor has fought at welterweight twice before.
UFC president Dana White recently said that the plan is to book McGregor, if he beats Cerrone, against the winner of the match between Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson for the lightweight title. White also said McGregor is interested in a future matchup with welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal. McGregor has not expressed a direct interest in challenging Usman.
Usman defended his 170-pound title for the first time Saturday night in the UFC 245 main event, defeating Colby Covington by fifth-round TKO.