Kamaru Usman has hit out at Conor McGregor, branding the Irishman a "clout chaser" after he demanded a shot at his UFC welterweight title.
The Nigerian fighter has looked unbeatable since becoming champion back in 2019, but McGregor believes that he can be the man to end his dominant title reign, and win an unprecedented third world title in the process. The former featherweight and lightweight champion has said he no longer wants to weight cut to 155lb and has instead setting his sights on Usman.
And while Usman will first have to get through a third consecutive title rematch with Leon Edwards, he hasn't rubbished the prospect of one day fighting McGregor. However, he has insisted that he doesn't take the Irishman too literally, given that he has fought so infrequently since his 2016 lightweight title win.
"I don't take anything that he says seriously because I understand he's just a clout chaser," Usman said in an interview with Sky Sports. "He's just looking for clout. He likes to attach his name to the guy at the top of the sport, just to announce his resurgence.
"That's what he does. If he's fighting, he's going to tweet about it. If I'm fighting, he's going to tweet something. He just wants to keep his name relevant out there, because obviously his fighting isn't doing the talking anymore. He wants to keep his name out there, that's why his fingers are doing the talking nowadays."
Usman appears to be more focused on a fight with Edwards, but understands that he would have to view McGregor as a "top contender" if the UFC were to make the fight. However, he also believes that the Irishman isn't close to the elite level any more, after going 1-3 since his last title win.
"To be honest, the real competitor in me is like no, no f***ing way," he responded when asked if he would see the Irishman as a legitimate challenge. "I wouldn't even pay attention to him because I know what he's doing, and I know where he's at in his career.
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"He hasn't won a fight in a couple of years. Yes, those were tough fights, but it is what it is. If I had to fight Conor [McGregor], I would still feel the same way, that's a top contender. Does he deserve it? Nobody deserves anything, so he shouldn't sit there and say I should get this or I should get that."
Ultimately, Usman is willing to sit down with UFC brass and discuss what fight he should take next, once he returns from his hand injury. Both McGregor and Usman are currently on the sidelines awaiting medical clearance, with the Irishman recovering from a broken leg.
"Myself and the company will set down and decide what makes most sense," Usman continued. "I've been the guy that everybody calls out and that's because I have something that everybody wants. At the end of the day, if it's Conor or no Conor, Leon Edwards or Colby Covington or Gilbert Burns, at the end of the day it doesn't matter.
"Everybody is going to call me out, that's what they're supposed to do. It's up to myself and the company to sit down and say 'okay, this guy is worth it, 'let's go out and take him out next'."
