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“F**k him, he’s a bum of a thing, don’t even mind him” – infamous words spoken by ‘The Notorious’ one in an old interview with Stephen A. Smith, about former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman. Yes, the love was not lost between the two former champions. In another interview, McGregor called ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ a “great” fighter but at the cost of putting himself levels above that “greatness.” Last year, Conor McGregor went full vintage mode, roasting Usman with an insult straight out of a schoolyard brawl. But while McGregor laughed it off, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ didn’t find the joke too funny.

McGregor, who hasn’t fought since 2021, didn’t mince words in the resurfaced clip uploaded by IG handle @vllgassmma. “Usman is talking crazy right now,he had said in a live stream with Duelbits. “Where’s Usman right now? The little bald Malteser head – what happened in his last fight again? I can’t even remember where you’re at in your game, bro, yeah? You’re nothing to me.”

Not only did McGregor take a jab at Usman’s hairline, but he also downplayed the former champ’s UFC 294 loss to Khamzat Chimaev as if it were already a forgotten footnote. In reality, Usman had taken the fight on short notice, moved up a weight class, and still delivered a performance that earned widespread respect.

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Of course, Kamaru Usman wasn’t about to let McGregor run wild without a response. The former champ, currently sitting at #3 in the welterweight division, didn’t just hit back but hit him where it hurts. “At what point does this become more than money?” Usman asked on his Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo. “There needs to be some level of respect here because at the end of the day, that’s what this sport is all about.” “The Notorious” does talk a lot, but when was the last time he actually fought? What’s a good beef between two men if not for fisticuffs?

Should Conor McGregor have fought Kamaru Usman, or is it too late now?

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Is McGregor all talk, or should he finally face Usman in the octagon?

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If McGregor really thought Usman was “nothing,” he would have jumped at the chance to fight him, right? Well, according to Usman, that opportunity was there. Twice. “I gave Conor two opportunities to fight me while I was champion,” Nigerian Nightmare revealed. “If you wanted an opportunity to fight me … who better? I was on the run that I was on. Who better for you to come up and fight?”

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And that’s where things get interesting because if Conor McGregor truly believed Kamaru Usman was washed, wouldn’t he have taken that fight? After all, McGregor has never been shy about chasing legacy fights. But instead, he stayed in the lightweight lane, teasing a welterweight jump but never actually making it happen. Now, with Usman out of the title picture, McGregor’s trash talk feels a little… convenient. Like talking tough about a fight that never actually happened while sidestepping the part where he could’ve made it happen.

USA Today via Reuters

And speaking of fighting, McGregor’s own return to the Octagon has hit yet another snag. After a nearly three-year hiatus, fans were eager to see him face Michael Chandler at UFC 303. But alas, it wasn’t meant to be. UFC head honcho Dana White announced that McGregor had withdrawn from the bout due to an injury. No specifics were given, leaving everyone to wonder, what exactly is keeping The Notorious one sidelined this time?

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For Usman, this isn’t just about trash talk, it’s about respect. “At the end of the day, Conor is who Conor is,” he admitted. “He’s done some fantastic things in this sport. But so have I.” And that’s the crux of it. Conor McGregor loves calling people irrelevant, but let’s not forget, Usman actually held a title for years. Since McGregor last fought, Usman has defended his belt, lost it, taken a short-notice fight against an undefeated monster, and is still ranked in the top three of his division. Meanwhile, McGregor? He’s still tweeting.

So what’s next? A real fight for McGregor, or just more verbal warfare? The Nigerian isn’t just another fighter letting McGregor run wild with the insults. And if McGregor ever decides to step back into the Octagon, he might just find himself facing more than just words. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

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Is McGregor all talk, or should he finally face Usman in the octagon?

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