Kamaru Usman has clapped back at Conor McGregor following his recent comments against him.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) went off on just about everyone in a fan Q&A, and former UFC welterweight champion Usman was also targeted.
“Usman is talking crazy right now,” McGregor said during a livestream with Duel Bits (h/t Championship Rounds on X). ‘Where is Usman now? The little bald Maltese head – what happened in his last battle again? I can’t even remember where you are in your game, buddy, yeah? You are nothing to me.”
Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) is confused because McGregor is also going after him.
“At what point does this become more than money?” Usman said on his podcast “Pound 4 Pound” with Henry Cejudo. “At what point does this become the integrity of the sport? Listen, at the end of the day, Conor is who Conor is. Conor has done some pretty amazing things in this sport of mixed martial arts, for the UFC. He has. But Conor, so do I. You were a champion – so was I. So in the end I have a little problem: you come along and say, “He’s a bum,” or he is this. You can’t say that, Conor.
‘I didn’t kick him while he was down. He has had run-ins with the law. He’s been through back-to-back incidents and situations, but you never heard me sit down and kick the guy while he was on the ground. There has to be a certain amount of respect here because at the end of the day, this is what this sport is all about. The respect and discipline we all bring to reach the top of the sport. That seems to be something he’s missing.”
McGregor also had choice words for UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, title challenger Belal Muhammad and UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Usman reminds former doubles champion McGregor that he welcomed a fight with him several times in the past when he was in the welterweight title picture.
“For you to say, ‘Oh, Ilia Topuria, he’s a bum’ – he’s not a bum,” Usman said. “He is currently the world champion. Obviously I’m not a bum, because if you wanted a chance to fight me… I gave Conor two chances to fight me while I was champion. I told him, ‘Hey, if you want to try that third band, who can do it better?’ I was on the flight I was on. Who better to stand up and fight for you?
“He talked about it. He bounced back and forth trying to get back, “Maybe I’ll go up and get the third tire.” It is what it is, Conor. If you wanted to fight, you had your chance – but you didn’t. Calling me a bum is a bit disrespectful. I didn’t disrespect you when you were in trouble. So my husband, I think sometimes it’s easier, and it’s better – well, it’s not easier… it’s better if you put down that whiskey bottle and actually come back to your senses and be a good father and a good role model.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) returns in a welterweight bout against Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) at UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+ ) .
For more information on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s events hub for UFC 303.
The story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
