Conor McGregor has been warned Kamaru Usman would prove too dangerous for him should he be handed a welterweight title shot.
The former two-weight world champion explained last week that he is looking to make even more history by moving back up to welterweight and becoming champion; the only person to ever win belts at three separate weights. However, to win that title, he would face arguably the toughest test of his career in Usman, who is stylistically an awful match-up for the Irishman.
He disagrees with the concerns about the style, saying that he has nothing to fear against his rival, but fellow two-weight world champion Daniel Cormier believes he is underestimating the challenge. None of the top welterweights in the UFC have been able to beat the Nigerian since he became a contender, including Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington who have tried twice.
And Cormier believes the size difference will be too much for McGregor, saying on his ESPN show: "Kamaru Usman said you almost want to see a homicide. Because honestly, when you look at these two, when you look at Usman and McGregor, come on man. Kamaru Usman is too big, he's too strong, he's too physical. He would present a lot of problems for Conor."
Cormier had been asked if Usman had "taken the bait" from McGregor by even responding to the Irishman's demands. But the ex-heavyweight champion and Olympic wrestler insisted that fighters have to given the draw and celebrity that McGregor brings to anyone he interacts with.
"He took the bait," Cormier joked. "But if you're Kamaru Usman you have to. He [ Conor McGregor ] is the biggest draw in the game and honestly, Conor's could get us, but it doesn't present that many problems for Kamaru Usman."
Would you like to see Conor McGregor fight Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
McGregor is known for his exploits at featherweight and lightweight where he won gold in both the UFC and Cage Warriors, but has also flirted with a move to welterweight in a few select fights. When Rafael Dos Anjos pulled out of their lightweight title fight in 2016, McGregor jumped up to the new weight to face Nate Diaz.
After losing that bout, he insisted on a rematch with the same exact stipulations in place, including that the fight take place at welterweight instead of lightweight, which would be both men's preferred division. He then moved back down to lightweight to win the belt from Eddie Alvarez, as well as fighting at essentially the same weight against Floyd Mayweather in boxing.
He lost his first MMA fight at 155lb when he returned to the cage after the Mayweather fight to face Khabib Nurmagomedov for the belt, and was back up to welterweight again for his comeback in 2020 against Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone. He moved back down to lightweight for two fights with Dustin Poirier last year, but now appears to want to make welterweight his permanent home.
