The UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman issued a strange threat to Conor McGregor on Monday, tweeting that he would “shag” the Irishman if the two ever fought in the Octagon.
Usman won the belt at UFC 235 in March 2019 when he outscored Tyron Woodley, crowding the champion with precise boxing in the transitions between striking and takedowns.
McGregor, a former UFC featherweight and lightweight ruler, stands at 2-1 at 170 pounds after running through Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds at UFC 246 in January.
I really don’t understand why you all want this man DEAD!!! I’d shag him in there if I wanted and he’d “DO NOTHIN” FOH 😒 pic.twitter.com/PvawNvX3Ru
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) May 25, 2020
“I really don’t understand why you all want this man DEAD!!!” said Usman, referring to speculation that the two might meet soon. “I’d shag him in there if I wanted and he’d “DO NOTHIN” FOH.”
The rivalry was exacerbated by Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, after another streaking welterweight, Jorge Masvidal, turned his attentions to a rematch with Nate Diaz.
Abdelaziz claimed he will liaise with the UFC to make the McGregor fight if Masvidal runs it back with his BMF title rival, as reported by ESPN on Monday.
The CEO of Dominance MMA Management had previously jabbed at “The Notorious” over his supposed lack of wrestling skills, stating his charge would promise to keep it standing in first the two rounds and only use “slaps.”
It looks like #1 contender wants to fight Nate Diaz now . Good for him @TheNotoriousMMA hey you want a title shot ? Come to daddy @USMAN84kg will give you one and he promise first 2 rounds without takedowns only slaps 😂
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) May 24, 2020
“It looks like #1 contender wants to fight Nate Diaz now . Good for him,” tweeted Abdelaziz. “@TheNotoriousMMA hey you want a title shot ? Come to daddy @USMAN84kg will give you one and he promise first 2 rounds without takedowns only slaps.”
Furthermore, after CBS Sports HQ implied that if McGregor lost to Usman he could make an excuse that he was chasing history – the chance to become the first man to win UFC titles in three weight classes – against a much more dominant fighter in the division, Abdelaziz tweeted: “I don’t know your name buddy but you absolutely right He will have an excuse @USMAN84kg Will take his lunch.”
Although Usman against McGregor would generate significant pay-per-view revenue, it doesn’t seem like “Mystic Mac” will stay at welterweight in the immediate future after decking Cerrone.
The Dublin-born star called out another one of Abdelaziz’s clients, Justin Gaethje, earlier in May in order to secure a tilt at the UFC interim lightweight title.
Rather than McGregor, the number four-ranked Brit Leon Edwards should get the next welterweight title shot after taking out the likes of Cerrone, Gunnar Nelson, and Rafael dos Anjos.
“I’ll be fighting for the world title next,” tweeted Edwards, referencing ESPN’s news of Usman against McGregor.
If the Birmingham-based striker can’t travel to the US during the coronavirus pandemic, “The Nigerian Nightmare” could face the winner of Tyron Woodley against Gilbert Burns, which is planned to go down in Las Vegas at UFC on ESPN 9 on Saturday.
