Kamaru Usman believes Conor McGregor is "done" despite the Irishman's intentions to challenge for his UFC welterweight crown.
McGregor has been out of the octagon since breaking his leg in a first round defeat to Dustin Poirier last July, but has recently stepped up his recovery. The Irishman has now returned to full MMA training alongside coach John Kavanagh at his gym in Ireland, and has put on a significant amount of weight which has seen him plan a return at 170lb.
Upon his return McGregor unveiled his scheme to make an immediate challenge for Usman's welterweight title, which he will defend against Leon Edwards on August 20 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena headlining UFC 278. However Usman believes McGregor could now decide not to fight at the top level after earning a huge fortune from the sport.
“He’s not necessarily done, but he’s done as a champion,” Usman said on the I Am Athlete podcast. “This is my perspective, because when I fight guys, I study their hearts. When I watch fights, I watch their heart and for me, he’s done. He’s done, because I don’t know whether the goal was to get the money.
“I don’t know if that’s what it was, because there’s a story about him: He was broke. For me, it seemed like it was about not being broke, getting money. So I understand that. Now he’s not broke. But how are you gonna be champion, because that’s what drove you to become champion, because you didn’t want to be broke? Now you’re not broke anymore.”
McGregor has previously reigned as champion in two divisions simultaneously and became the first man in UFC history to do so when he beat Eddie Alvarez back in 2016. However his form has significantly declined since that point, having lost three of his last four fights.
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His last victory came against Donald Cerrone which in fact was staged at 170lb, which is where McGregor sees his future if he elects to make a comeback. Usman has stated he would be willing to accept the challenge, with a whole host of other fighters also keen on the prospect of facing McGregor including Jorge Masvidal.
McGregor is confident that he could rise to the challenge and dethrone Usman. “I’ve already won the 155lb title," he told The Mac Life. "I got myself down to a lightweight frame, but I’m big now. I feel strong, I feel healthy, I’ve got good energy. I’m coming back after a gruesome injury. I do not want to deplete myself, there should be no need to deplete myself.
"I feel confident against Usman. A jab happy, sloppy, orthodox wrestler with no submissions whatsoever. What’s he going to do? Where’s the danger here? I don’t see a danger with him. His ground-and-pound isn’t strong, plus he’s on the older side. No one’s ever obtained three UFC world titles cross three divisions like I will do also if we make this fight."
