UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has claimed that Conor McGregor went running when offered a fight with him earlier this year.

Usman retained his title at UFC 251 on Fight Island earlier this month, dominating short notice replacement Jorge Masvidal over five rounds.

McGregor had long spoken of his desire to win a belt at a third weight class and moved up to 170 pounds for a second time when he defeated Donald Cerrone in emphatic fashion in January.

He has subsequently announced his ‘retirement’ and Usman has accused him of bottling the chance to face him and try and win a historic belt at a third weight class.

Speaking to TMZ Sports Usman said, “I’ve offered him a shot! I said, ‘Hey if you want it, it’s yours, you got it’, and he was silent.

“If Conor wants to put my name in his mouth, then come get some.

“(A Conor fight is) just a lost cause because we both know Conor.

“The only time Conor gets up to the welterweight division is if he’s able to pick and choose lightweights with double-digit losses that he can pick off and not have to cut weight to get down to lightweight.

“If Conor wants a piece at welterweight, he knows who the king of the division is. I’m not going anywhere! I’m right here.”