Usman dismisses McGregor's callout: 'He just wants to stay relevant'

Kamaru Usman is positive Conor McGregor has no real interest in stepping into the Octagon with him.

The UFC welterweight champion said McGregor called him out after his title defense against Jorge Masvidal in April simply because he wanted to keep himself in the headlines.

"Basically, he just wants to stay relevant," Usman told CBS Sports HQ on Monday. "He doesn't want to fight me, because I've offered him the fight and he said no. And I'll offer it to him gladly today. I guarantee you he will say no."

Usman claimed he gave McGregor a chance to fight him in the early days of his 170-pound title reign, but the former two-division champion went "radio silent for a couple of days."

McGregor has publicly expressed interest in a clash with Usman multiple times in the past two years. He did so before his win over Donald Cerrone in January 2020, and again after Usman knocked out Masvidal in the UFC 261 main event last month. The Irishman vowed to "smack" Usman and take the welterweight belt from him for "copying my words and my shots."

But Usman is quick to brush off McGregor's antics on social media.

"That's just exactly what it is - these guys are just trying to steal your thunder or chase clout or attach their name to you," Usman said. "I just shrug it off my shoulders, because at the end of the day, that's all it is. These guys just run their mouths."

Usman is expected to defend his belt next against Colby Covington, though the fight hasn't yet been finalized. Meanwhile, McGregor is booked to face Dustin Poirier in a lightweight trilogy bout on July 10.