Conor McGregor on shortlist to face UFC champion Kamaru Usman

Kamaru Usman is ready to grant Conor McGregor a shot at his UFC title.

The welterweight champion wants to make the second defence of his belt on Fight Island this summer.

Leading contender Jorge Masvidal has long been considered the most obvious challenger but he appears more interested in a rematch with Nate Diaz.

That has left the door open for McGregor despite his experience at 170lb being limited to two fights with Diaz and his 40-second blow-out of Donald Cerrone earlier this year.

And Usman told ESPN: "This will be history. Like I know a lot of people are trying to s*** on it like Conor doesn’t deserve it.

"Okay, but the next guy they would be deserving of the fight would be Leon Edwards and he can’t get into the country, so what?

"If Conor can make this fight happen, why wouldn’t we fight Conor? He just fought at 170 and he looked great.

"Cowboy Cerrone beat a lot of guys that were ranked at 170. He did very well at 170 and Conor went out there and starched him. "Obviously I like Cowboy, and he’s my guy, but Conor went out there and got the job done in less than a minute. So how can people sit here and say Conor is not deserving?"

McGregor is a former two-weight world champion having won both the featherweight and lightweight titles.

He has long insisted he could become a three-weight ruler - and could now have his chance.

"He says he’s the pound for pound greatest of all time across three divisions," added Usman. "This is your chance to prove it, go out there and win a third belt in a third division, so why wouldn’t we make that fight?

"I'm going to give him the opportunity, if Conor wants, let’s do it. But Conor’s quiet now. Who says no to a title shot?

"I’ve never seen this in history, who says no when the champ says come and get your title shot? Unless you know you have no chance in hell of winning.

"This might change the landscape of your fighting career ever. That’s the only chance I can see people saying they're going to pass on that title shot right there."