Kamaru Usman thinks Conor McGregor’s days as UFC champion are behind him.
Kamaru Usman has been the top fighter in the UFC welterweight division for over three years. In that short time, he has defended the title five times and is in the discussion for as all-time greatest fighter at 170 pounds. As a champion, Usman prides himself on his work ethic and his domination. He feels he knows what it takes to be a champion and stay a champion. When discussing Conor McGregor on a recent episode of the I Am Athlete podcast, he shared his opinion that McGregor might not have that drive anymore.
“He’s not necessarily done, but he’s done as a champion,” Usman said h/t MMA Junkie. “This is my perspective because when I fight guys, I study their hearts. When I watch fights, I watch their heart and for me, he’s done. He’s done because I don’t know whether the goal was to get the money.”
Usman thinks that fame and fortune have taken away McGregor’s will to be champion
Usman is the current pound-for-pound best fighter in the world right now. He has won his last 18 professional fights and is continuing to shine. He is at the top of his craft, a place McGregor used to be. In recent years McGregor has become one of the most well-known MMA fighters in the world. As his popularity grew so did his bank account. He is one of the richest athletes in the world and it is because of this fact that Usman thinks he might not have that killer instinct anymore.
“I don’t know if that’s what it was, because there’s a story about him: He was broke. For me, it seemed like it was about not being broke, getting money. So I understand that. Now he’s not broke. But how are you gonna be champion, because that’s what drove you to become champion, because you didn’t want to be broke? Now you’re not broke anymore.”
Since losing his championship belts back in 2018, McGregor has gone 1-3 in the UFC. His fortune in that time has grown exponentially. McGregor is the highest-paid fighter in the UFC and his fight purses are monstrous whether or not he is fighting for a title. Although he remains persistent in getting another UFC title, at least that is what he says on social media every so often, he does not seem to have much urgency about it. He has been inactive ever since his last injury in the cage and his return date is unclear at this time. As for Usman he has been very active and will defend his title again on August 20.
