Kamaru Usman gives Conor McGregor the answer he wants to hear ahead of UFC 246
Conor McGregor is keen to become the UFC's first three-weight world champion.
Kamaru Usman has doubled down on his willingness to fight Conor McGregor, insisting he won't discriminate against the Irishman should he get back in the win column this weekend. McGregor will make his eagerly-anticipated return to the Octagon early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 246 in Las Vegas.
McGregor's comeback fight - his first in over 15 months - will see him lock horns with Donald Cerrone in a welterweight match-up.
Unsurprisingly, McGregor's return to the welterweight division has sparked ambitions of him becoming the UFC's first three-weight simultaneous champion.
The Irishman has openly discussed the prospect of challenging Usman for the welterweight title, insisting he'd prefer to take on Africa's first UFC champion than challenge Jorge Masvidal for the BMF belt.
Like Masvidal, Usman is open to facing McGregor - who would provide him with the biggest payday of his career.
Express Sport is reporting live from Las Vegas in association with Ohmbet UK, the UK’s No.1 MMA sportsbook. For the latest UFC 246 fight odds and more go here.
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'The Nigerian Nightmare' has the utmost respect for the promotion's poster boy's attempt to become a three-weight world champion insists he wouldn't turn down the fight if it were to be offered to him.
“He is special to the world of mixed martial art," Usman said. "I am no hater. I give credit where credit is due.
That young man has definitely done a lot for the sport.
"So if he wants to step in and challenge, he is trying to make history to actually fight for a third title.
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"I would be stupid to stand in the way of history and not give him that opportunity.”
Usman, who registered the first defence of his welterweight title last month at UFC 245, added: “I am the champion. That’s it. Plain and simple. They will have to come to me.
"There is a reason now they talk about me. And that’s because I have the gold. Anybody can get it. I have never said NO.
“If Conor wants it Conor can get it too. I don’t discriminate on ass whooping. Anybody can get it.”
McGregor likes the idea of creating more UFC history but admits he's leaning towards fighting Masvidal more than Usman.
"I’d take both," McGregor said when asked who he'd prefer to fight. "I would like that BMF and then I would like the gold.
“The gold does mean more. They are more exciting bouts, I think the more exciting would be me against Jorge.
“We’ll see what happens, I’m enjoying myself at welterweight.