Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has made a direct challenge to Conor McGregor, calling for a high-profile bout in 2026 on X.
Usman’s callout revives a rivalry that has lingered for years, drawing attention to a potential meeting between two of the sport’s most accomplished and marketable names. Usman voiced his intentions in public, emphasizing previous efforts to secure a fight with McGregor during his run as welterweight champion.
Back in 2024, Usman spoke on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, “I gave Conor two opportunities to fight me… I told him, ‘Hey, if you want a crack at that third belt, who better?'” He stated McGregor turned down those offers, leaving the possibility open for a future showdown.
This long-standing tension dates back at least to April 2021, when Usman delivered a knockout of Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. After that fight, McGregor used social media to accuse Usman of borrowing his striking techniques and teased a move to the welterweight division, writing, “Usman even copying my shots now… I like 170. It’s mine soon.” Usman quickly pushed back, asserting his own abilities and showing willingness to engage in verbal sparring, though talks never moved toward a negotiated bout at that time. The exchange solidified a competitive and personal rivalry fueled by championship ambitions and public interest.
Following a dominant reign at welterweight, Usman experienced setbacks, suffering three consecutive defeats to Leon Edwards twice and Khamzat Chimaev before returning to form with a unanimous decision win over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night in Atlanta in June 2025. That victory snapped a prolonged losing streak. Reflecting on his return in the post-fight interview, Usman said, “I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level.” The win has restored some momentum for Usman and reinforced his interest in pursuing high-profile fights. A bout against McGregor offers appeal beyond divisional rankings, representing both a financial and competitive opportunity as Usman seeks to close out his career with statement performances.
McGregor’s situation is less predictable. After a series of high-stakes losses and a long layoff due to injury, the former two-division champion has expressed flexibility about his return, suggesting he may accept a wider range of opponents than in prior years. In early 2026, McGregor indicated he is “open to a no-name opponent” in his bid to step back into the UFC spotlight. Whether McGregor would agree to fight Usman is an open question. Usman has never competed outside the welterweight division, where his physical stature and grappling have been keys to his success. McGregor has seen his most storied success at 145 and 155 pounds, only occasionally fighting at welterweight, most notably against Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrone. While those bouts were commercially successful, McGregor never entrenched himself as part of the welterweight title picture, and facing Usman would be a significant physical and technical challenge given the stylistic matchup.
Usman’s callout forces questions of weight, readiness, and mutual motivation. For McGregor, moving up to welterweight with the intent to challenge one of the division’s all-time best wrestlers would come with new demands in terms of size, cardio, and overall approach. Usman, for his part, has suggested McGregor has previously declined this challenge in a championship context.
A fight between the two would hold considerable value. For Usman, meeting McGregor gives him the platform to engage with the sport’s most talked-about figure and potentially cap his UFC tenure with a marquee victory. For McGregor, a fight with Usman circles back to previous ambitions of fighting for a third championship in a third weight class, along with a chance to answer critics regarding his position among the current elite.
The potential event would almost certainly be pushed as a main attraction, capturing attention across MMA audiences and beyond. However, the difficulties of negotiating weight, timing, and financial stakes mean nothing is guaranteed.
For now, Kamaru Usman’s challenge stands as one of the most direct and high-profile efforts to secure Conor McGregor as an opponent in 2026. As both men map out the remaining stages of their careers, the possibility of a showdown remains uncertain but noteworthy. Usman’s persistence and McGregor’s fluctuating openness keep the conversation alive, and it remains up to the Irishman to respond publicly or signal his intentions for the coming year.
