Kamaru Usman calls out Conor McGregor: “Why is he so quiet? Who says no to a title shot?”
There is no shortage of contenders inside the UFC’s welterweight division to challenge champion Kamaru Usman for the title, but things seem a bit unclear at the top and now Usman wants to know why. Earlier this year it was expected that Usman would face ‘BMF’ champion Jorge Masvidal for the unified welterweight title, but the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many plans.
Recently, Masvidal has been vocal about a potential rematch with Nate Diaz, who he beat to become the ‘BMF’ champion at UFC 244 in November last year, and Masvidal’s manager claims he is already in camp waiting for his next opponent. With Masvidal and Diaz engaged with each other, the other remaining contenders for a title shot are Leon Edwards, Conor McGregor, or a rematch with Colby Covington, who Usman defeated at UFC 245 in December.
Due to the travel restrictions in place Edwards is unable to travel to the United States and campaign for a title shot, and already having a victory over Covington, Usman has suggested McGregor could be his next title challenger. McGregor is the former featherweight and lightweight champion in the UFC and has competed 3 times at welterweight, picking up wins over Diaz and Donald Cerrone who he defeated at UFC 246 in January.
Now that Usman has offered up a title shot for McGregor, the champion is wondering why “The Notorious” has been so quiet about fighting him. In an interview with ESPN, Kamaru Usman fired back at critics who said McGregor wasn’t deserving of a welterweight title shot.
"Conor's quiet now. Why is Conor quiet? Who says no to a title shot?"@USMAN84kg sees McGregor as a worthy title challenger, but is surprised by his silence 🤫 (via @bokamotoESPN) pic.twitter.com/6XQpxgK2o5
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 26, 2020
“This would be history. I know a lot of people are trying to sh*t on it and say Conor doesn’t deserve it, OK but the next guy that’s deserving of the fight is Leon Edwards, he can’t get in the country, so, what? If Conor can make this fight happen, why wouldn’t we fight Conor? He just fought at 170 and he looked great. Cowboy Cerrone beat a lot of guys that were ranked at 170, he did very well at 170, and Conor went out there and starched him. So how can people sit here and say Conor is not deserving?”
As for the history that could be made, Usman discussed McGregor’s recent comments about the fighter GOAT rankings and how winning a third belt in a third division would cement McGregor’s place as an all-time great.
“We’re about making history here, he’s saying he’s the pound-for-pound greatest of all-time across three divisions, this is your chance to prove it. Go out there win a third belt in your third division, why wouldn’t we make that fight? I’m going to give him that opportunity, if Conor wants it, let’s do it.”
Although Usman has been very public about giving McGregor a title shot, he has yet to here a response from the former two-weight champion and is curious why there’s silence after he’s publicly given him a title opportunity.
“Conor’s quiet now. Why is Conor quiet? Who says no to a title shot? I’ve never seen this in history, who says no when the champ says come and get your title shot. Unless you know you have no chance in hell of winning that this might change the landscape of your fighting career. That’s the only chance I can see people saying you know what, I’m going to pass on that tile shot.”
It sounds like the ball is in the court of Conor McGregor if he wants to challenge Kamaru Usman for the welterewight title, but the champion has some ideas as to why he hasn’t heard a response yet.
