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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun

Kamaru Usman warns Conor McGregor against title pursuit at 170: ‘He must want to die’

Kamaru Usman has sent Conor McGregor a stern warning.

Speaking to TMZ, UFC welterweight champion Usman (16-1 MMA, 11-0 UFC), who took out arch-rival Colby Covington in the fifth round this past Saturday at UFC 245, does not think McGregor (21-4, 9-2 UFC) would fair well with him in the cage.

Former featherweight and lightweight champ McGregor recently tweeted “145. 155. 170.” seemingly implying his intentions of perhaps targeting a third UFC title at welterweight.

But Usman thinks a potential fight between him and McGregor would be a one-sided beating.

“He must want to die,” Usman said. “I mean like, what? He must want to die. This is not ’45, ’55. Like I will – you saw what Khabib (Nurmagomedov) did to him. Like, I’m – oh, my God. It wouldn’t even be fair if I fought Conor.”

McGregor returns to action at UFC 246 on Jan. 18 when he takes on Donald Cerrone in a welterweight bout at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Angling for an eventual rematch with UFC lightweight champ Nurmagomedov, McGregor reportedly also has his eye on “BMF” champ Jorge Masvidal, as well.

Whatever comes next for the sport’s biggest star, Usman wants McGregor to understand that picking up a title at welterweight won’t be easy as long as he’s on top.

“Much respect to Conor for what he’s done for this sport and transcended it but nah, this ain’t what you want,” Usman said. “You just sit down, little man, sit down. Learn to walk before you can run because I would hurt that guy.”

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