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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Robert Hynes

Conor McGregor UFC news: Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman says Notorious 'must want to die'

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman says Conor McGregor 'must want to die' if he wants to fight him.

The Notorious hinted over the weekend that he wanted a shot at the welterweight title after Usman defeated Colby Covington at UFC 245.

McGregor tweeted "145. 155. 170", with the Irishman having already won the 145 and 155 belts.

But Usman says it wouldn't be fair if he was to fight McGregor.

He told TMZ: “He must want to die.

“I mean, what?! He must want to die. This is not ’45, ’55. You saw what Khabib 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 this sport and transcended it. [But] Nah, this is not what you want.

Kamaru Usman fighting Colby Covington (Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“Just sit down, little man. Sit down. Learn to walk before you can run because I would hurt that guy.”

The Nigerian Nightmare's comments come after McGregor seemingly challenged UFC star Stephen Thompson to a fight next year.

Wonderboy was a guest on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday where he was presented with the 'Nicest Mother F***er' belt by the host.

McGregor was clearly watching and quickly took to Twitter to claim the belt would be his in 2020.

He tweeted: "That belt is mine in 2020 motherbuddies!"

Thompson was quick to respond to the former two-weight champion, posting: "It was AWESOME receiving the #nmf belt from @arielhelwani and @paradigmsm today!!

"And @thenotoriousmma it would be HONOR to go toe to toe with the best in the bizz for the NMF belt good sir...or should I say... MOTHERBUDDY!!"

Meanwhile, McGregor's striking coach believes The Notorious could face Jorge Masvidal if he beats Donald Cerrone.

Owen Roddy is working with McGregor ahead of his UFC return next month.

The former two-weight world champion hasn't fought in the promotion in over 14 months since losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov and although McGregor is desperate for a rematch with the Russian, Masvidal might come before that bout.

When asked about a potential bout with Masvidal, Roddy told MMA Fighting's Eurobash podcast: "That’s the plan.

Conor McGregor and Owen Roddy (Instagram/ thenotoriousmma)

"That’s what he wants to do and there’s one thing I always say: when Conor says he wants to do something, if anyone is going to do it, he can.

"But, let’s not look past Cerrone. He’s a tricky opponent and he’s a veteran with tricks up his sleeve.

"But Conor going in there the way he looks now, he should do well."

Nurmagomedov recently shot down the possibility of a rematch McGregor.

He said recently: "I think Cerrone has lost seven or eight of his last 10 fights and the other one (McGregor) is going into his fourth year with no victories.

"It's like the minor leagues - it really doesn't matter who wins there.

"I'm surprised that Dana White is saying that if Conor beats Cerrone and I beat Tony Ferguson that there will be a rematch. I decide who I fight next.

"To fight me he has to cut weight first, down to 70kg, and then win 10 fights in a row like I did, then we'll think about a rematch.

"But for now he can fight second-rate fighters who lose seven out of 10 fights at 77kg, but to think he deserves the lightweight belt... well I'm champion so that won't happen, don't worry."

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