Kamaru Usman recently mocked Conor McGregor, alleging that the Irishman has devolved into a “normal warrior.”
The reigning UFC welterweight champion and the MMA megastar are old friends.
McGregor has previously stated his desire to compete for the UFC welterweight championship.
Usman, who has held the UFC welterweight belt since March 2019 challenged Conor McGregor to a title battle. The bout is yet to take place.
For the last few years, Usman and McGregor have been involved in a verbal brawl. In a recent ESPN MMA interview, Usman discussed the prospect of fighting McGregor, “Loudmouth; just a loudmouth. He (Conor McGregor) does more talking now than he does fighting,” Usman said.
Usman continued, “If he wants to fight me, he knows where to find me. He can call me, and we’ll make that fight happen.”
When asked how much regard his fellow fighters have for Conor McGregor as a warrior, Usman responded, “Right now, it’s more of a loudmouth. He’s a loudmouth. It’s a guy that can compete, but he’s not the ‘champion’ Conor McGregor.
“He’s not the double champion. He’s not that guy anymore. He’s just a guy that’s in the UFC. Now if he wasn’t Conor; hasn’t done the things that he’s done; he would just be a regular fighter.
“That’s probably the level of respect he gets now. It’s just he’s a regular fighter with a lot of money and a lot of hype and recognition. But the old Conor, the hungry Conor, that was the fighter that fighters respected.
“Now – not that we don’t respect him at all – he’s still a UFC fighter. But he’s just a regular fighter.”
Usman keen on string of fights
Usman is coming off a stunning second-round KO victory over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261 in Las Vegas (April 2021). Following his historic victory, Usman has recently stressed his ability to face a wide range of opponents.
He has stated that he is willing to face any opponent, whether it is YouTube megastar Jake Paul in a professional boxing match or MMA icon McGregor in the UFC. Usman’s next opponent and return date are still unknown.
Meanwhile, McGregor will compete in a lightweight bout against Dustin Poirier.
Read more: “Usman is even copying my shots now”: McGregor says he will smack Kamaru when they meet.