Morning Report: Kamaru Usman responds to Conor McGregor, McGregor fires back by

Whether there’s really fire here is up for debate, but Kamaru Usman and Conor McGregor are both certainly posturing that they want all the smoke.

On Saturday night, Usman successfully defended his welterweight title for the fourth time, knocking out bitter rival Jorge Masvidal in the second round with a clean right hand. The knockout was only the second KO loss of Masvidal’s career and prompted enormous praise from everyone watching, even Masvidal himself. However, there was one man who was less than glowing in his reaction: McGregor.

Earlier this month, Usman used the phrase “green panty night” when talking about Masvidal, a clear reference to McGregor’s famed “red panty night” quip, and while enjoying the fights at UFC 261, the former featherweight and lightweight champion Tweeted his reaction to the main event, suggesting that wasn’t the only thing Usman stole from him and proclaiming he was coming for the welterweight title soon.

Usman was, of course too busy celebrating his own victory to respond immediately, but when he did, the welterweight champion dismissed “Notorious,” even noting that McGregor’s famed knockout power has not yielded the same results as of late.

Never a man to take things quietly, McGregor went off on the champion, suggesting Usman takes PEDS and calling for the UFC to give him a crack at the 170 title.

It should be noted that Since 2016, Usman has tested clean for USADA 50 times, including eight times this year already. Fortunately, at least for now, the champion did not deign to drop down to McGregor’s level with baseless accusations, instead he kept it restricted to fairly generic trash talk in response.

Usman and McGregor have been periodically chirping at one another for years now dating back to when Usman won the welterweight title. For Usman, a fight with McGregor would present an enormous financial opportunity, meanwhile McGregor would have a chance to become the first fighter in UFC history to win titles in three different weight classes. Unfortunately for both men, McGregor currently has his hands full in a trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July. But if McGregor can avenge his January loss to Poirier, perhaps the UFC will finally pull the trigger on giving McGregor the welterweight title shot he’s always wanted.

Results. Usman, Namajunas, and Shevchenko won the three title fights at UFC 261.

Results. Upsets reign as Anthony Pettis, champs Natan Schulte and Lance Palmer fall via decision at PFL 1.

Catchphrase. Kamaru Usman says that finishing punches of Jorge Masvidal were ‘super necessary’.

Get well. Chris Weidman undergoes successful surgery on broken leg, recovering now following injury suffered at UFC 261.

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