Conor McGregor warned he must beat Jorge Masvidal to get UFC title shot as US star taunts him over welterweight record

CONOR McGREGOR has been warned he has to go through Jorge Masvidal to get a shot at the welterweight title.

McGregor, 31, returns to the cage on January 18 facing Donald Cerrone, 36, at 170lbs, 14 months since losing to lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov.

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The Notorious has already been told by UFC boss Dana White he can rematch bitter rival Nurmagomedov, 31, for the 155lbs crown.

But the Irishman has hinted he may stay at welterweight to face champion Kamaru Usman or Masvidal - who won the ‘Baddest Mother F***er’ belt against Nate Diaz in November.

Masvidal’s meteoric rise in 2019, that included stoppage wins against Darren Till, Ben Askren and Diaz, saw White name him as the next man in line for Usman’s belt.

But ‘Gambred’ admitted he would rather the “money-fight” with McGregor, and told the southpaw he holds the cards at welterweight and decides who fights for the belt.

UFC NEWS LIVE: Follow the latest updates as Conor McGregor returns

Masvidal told Submission Radio: “It’s cute man, you don’t do nothing at 70 [170 pounds], you have some type of power at 55.

“You can skip who and what at 55, but at 70 that wouldn’t even be a conversation.

“Just based on his record alone, he’s 1-1 at 170. And on top of that, you have to go through me to get the title shot.

“I dictate who gets the next title shot and when that’ll be. And that’s just simple.

“If I’m fighting Conor, maybe someone else gets the title shot. If I’m not fighting Conor, then I’m fighting for this title.”

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Masvidal goaded McGregor’s 50 per cent win ratio at welterweight, with the Irish star losing to Diaz in 2016 but winning the rematch five months later.

White revealed McGregor has been allowed to beef up and return at 170lbs so that he does not have to go through a gruelling weight cut to lightweight.

The muscle gain has divided opinions, with the question on whether McGregor will use the extra weight to gain power or fatigue quicker.

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