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Nicolas Atkin

Conor McGregor has said he’s “open to it all at 170”. But UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has sent him another warning to stay away.
The Irishman, a former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, returns to the Octagon on January 18 to fight Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at 170 pounds.
McGregor has talked up the possibility of a mega-money fight with “BMF” champion Jorge Masvidal but also “likes the look” of a title tilt against Usman. “The Nigerian Nightmare” doesn’t think that’s a smart idea though.
“It is a [mismatch],” Usman told MMAFighting.com. “More power to him, anything is possible. A fight is a fight, anything can happen. But just being real, that’s a tremendous mismatch. I think I would hurt him really, really bad.”


“I mean we saw what Khabib [Nurmagomedov] did to him. He had to take some time off after the Khabib fight. Now imagine him fighting me. I don’t think we ever see him back in the sport.”
Usman underlined his credential as the best welterweight in the sport with a dramatic fifth-round TKO of former interim champion Colby Covington at UFC 245 last month in his first title defence.
UFC: Masvidal warns McGregor ‘don’t flirt with me’
Masvidal seems to be the logical choice for his next challenger, but “Gamebred” has said he prefers a fight with McGregor over “that owl dude” Usman.
The champ doesn’t seem too interested in taking on “The Notorious” however, despite the bumper payday that would come with it.
“Conor doesn’t even really make sense,” Usman said. “Sure, if he comes in the division and beats someone pretty high up there and really makes the case for himself that he can really handle himself in the division, then absolutely I would entertain that fight.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: Kamaru Usman says he’d retire Conor McGregor – ‘it would be a tremendous mismatch’

Kamaru Usman ahead of his fight against Colby Covington at UFC 245. Photo: USA TODAY Sports

Jorge Masvidal gives his Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone prediction for UFC 246

Conor McGregor returns to the UFC on January 18. Photo: AFP

UFC: Jorge Masvidal warns Conor McGregor ‘don’t flirt with me’, and punks ‘owl’ Kamaru Usman

Jorge Masvidal with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson after his victory by TKO on a medical stoppage against Nate Diaz at UFC 244. Photo: AFP

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 14: Colby Covington (L) gets hit with a punch from UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the fifth round of their welterweight title fight during UFC 245 at T-Mobile Arena on December 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Usman retained his title with a fifth-round TKO. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

UFC: Darren Till predicts Conor McGregor first-round TKO of Donald Cerrone, explains dangers of fighting southpaws

Conor McGregor arrives late at a pre-fight press conference in 2016. Photo: AP

Nov 2, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Kelvin Gastelum (red gloves) fights Darren Till (blue gloves) during UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports

FILE - In this Dec. 12, 2015 file photo, Conor McGregor knocks out Jose Aldo during a featherweight championship mixed martial arts bout at UFC 194, in Las Vegas. Aldo wants to re-establish his dominance in the UFC featherweight division 18 months after his stunning loss to McGregor. Top contender Max Holloway will attempt to interrupt Aldo's revival at UFC 212 in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, June 3, 2017. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

UFC: Conor McGregor’s coach says it’s ‘not late notice’ to step in for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson fight in April

Conor McGregor (right) and Khabib Nurmagomedov face off before their title fight in 2018. Photo: AP

John Kavanagh (right) spars with Conor McGregor

Justin Gaethje, right, celebrates his win over Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone following their lightweight match at UFC Fight Night in Vancouver, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 06: Conor McGregor of Ireland is sits on the mat in the octagon after being defeated by Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia by submission in their UFC lightweight championship bout during the UFC 229 event inside T-Mobile Arena on October 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

UFC: Conor McGregor ‘open to it all at 170’, not just Masvidal – but Usman warns him

Conor McGregor poses during a ceremonial weigh-in for UFC 229. Photo: AP

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Usman thinks ‘we don’t ever see him back in the sport’ if he fights McGregor
‘I think I would hurt him really, really bad,’ says welterweight champion



UFC welterweight champion Kanaru Usman thinks ‘we don’t ever see him back in the sport’ if he fights Conor McGregor – ‘I would hurt him really, really bad’.


Conor McGregor

Jorge Masvidal

UFC: Kamaru Usman says he’d retire Conor McGregor – ‘it would be a tremendous mismatch’

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Usman thinks ‘we don’t ever see him back in the sport’ if he fights McGregor ‘I think I would hurt him really, really bad,’ says welterweight champion

Usman thinks ‘we don’t ever see him back in the sport’ if he fights McGregor

‘I think I would hurt him really, really bad,’ says welterweight champion