MMA
Kamaru Usman says Conor McGregor turned down a huge title fight
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Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman revealed some interesting information about Conor McGregor.
After McGregor called Usman a "bum" in his recent livestream, he revealed a history between the two former champions. Apparently, McGregor turned down a chance to fight Usman while he was still champion.
“If you wanted the opportunity to fight me, I gave Conor two opportunities to fight me,” Usman said on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo.
“Two opportunities, while I was champion. I gave him two opportunities to fight me. I told him, ‘Hey, if you want a crack at that third belt, who better?’ I was on the run that I was on, who better that he could come up and fight. He talked about it, he bounced back and forth, when he wanted to make his return he said, ‘Yeah, maybe I’ll go up and grab the third belt.’
He continued, “It is what it is, Conor. If you wanted to fight, you had your opportunity, but you didn’t. So to call me a bum is kind of disrespectful and I didn’t disrespect you when you were having your troubles, so I think it’s sometimes easier and it’s better-well, it’s not easier-it’s better that you put that whisky bottle down and actually come back to your wits and be a good father and a good role model.”
We never did get to see that fight as Usman lost his title in August 2022 after defending it five times.
McGregor will return after a three year hiatus to fight Michael Chandler on June 29.
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