UFC star Conor McGregor has been advised to pursue a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz instead of challenging Kamaru Usman.
McGregor has called for a fight with welterweight champion Usman upon his return to the UFC later this year. The former two-weight champion has been sidelined since a horror leg break in his third fight against Dustin Poirier last July.
Strictly limited to weight training during his rehabilitation, McGregor has bulked up to 190lbs and is more interested in competing at welterweight instead of lightweight for his comeback fight. The Irishman took part in his first sparring session this month since breaking the tibia.
McGregor's call out of Usman has been questioned by No.5 ranked welterweight Belal Muhammad, who thinks he should try and fight Diaz for the third time upon his return. "He lost to Poirier but thinks he can come up to welterweight and beat Usman, it doesn’t make any sense," Muhammad told Mirror Fighting .
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"Unless he still thinks that he has that one punch power and is hoping he can land that one punch, but it’s not going to happen for him I don’t think. I think it’ll end up being him against Nate Diaz and that’s the safer fight for him."
Diaz has recently asked the UFC to be released from his contract. The fan favourite has one more fight left on his current deal, but he is refusing to entertain a third fight with McGregor after his old rival " sucks ".
Pound-for-pound No.1 Usman is pencilled in to defend his belt against Leon Edwards in July, meaning McGregor is unlikely to get his requested fight against the champion. However, Muhammad thinks that Usman won't be ready to fight in July after recently undergoing hand surgery.
The top contender wouldn't be surprised if McGregor does leapfrog Edwards to get a title shot because of star power in the promotion. "Anything's possible in this sport, especially with the money and revenue he brings in," Muhammad continued.
"It’s always what the fans are going to be asking for. His followers are so delusional that they think he can still be a champion. He hasn’t won a fight in five or six years and has been knocked out in his last two fights.
"He’s a guy that just craves attention and wants to stay in the limelight, but maybe take an easier fight and get a couple wins under your belt to give yourself some momentum."
