Conor McGregor says he will “smack” UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman for “copying his shots” in his victory over Jorge Masvidal on Saturday night.
Usman defended his UFC welterweight championship with an emphatic second-round knockout to defeat Masvidal for the second time in two years.
The Nigerian feinted with his left hand before connecting with a straight right to send his American rival crashing down on the Octagon canvas.
Usman’s victory extends his UFC record to a formidable 14 wins without loss and number one welterweight contender Colby Covington is likely to be his next opponent.
But McGregor appears to be keen to take on the 33-year-old, as he has grown annoyed of Usman allegedly mimicking his fighting style.
The Irishman posted a clip of him feinting and landing a heavy blow on Dustin Poirier in their January fight and wrote: “Usman even copying my shots now.
“Am I to fight this guy at some stage? I think so.
“Can’t be copying my words and my shots and not get a smack for it. I like 170 [pounds]. It’s mine soon.”
To McGregor’s annoyance, Usman claimed that fighting him is like “green panty night” in one of his pre-fight interviews.
This was a clear nod to McGregor’s famous “red panty night” remark, and it was not lost on the former featherweight and lightweight champion.
“I’m a block at 170 guys,” the 32-year-old wrote on Twitter. “Give me till end of year at this 155 weight.
“I’ll get the strap and then I’ll go up [to 170] again. After green fungus panties hahaha ‘cos any one of these fools can get it’ – Usman.”
It remains to be seen whether McGregor will earn a shot at the UFC lightweight championship this year.
He is due to face Poirier for a third time at UFC 264 this summer – a non-title bout – and if he wins he may face the victor of Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler’s clash at UFC 262 in May for the vacant belt.