Kamaru Usman has his sights set on gold once more after dominating Joaquin Buckley within the UFC Atlanta primary occasion and he’s not thinking about the rest—together with a longstanding grudge with one other former champion.
Following a showcase performance in his first fight back in nearly two years, Usman took a victory lap by reminding all of his doubters he’s nonetheless among the best welterweights on the planet. He was additionally fast to level out his win got here with out displaying all of his weapons, however reasonably simply utilizing wrestling to utterly stifle Buckley for almost all of the 25-minute battle.
“Due to that combat [against Khamzat Chimaev], it’s nearly like they forgot I may f*cking wrestle,” Usman stated referencing his final loss. “They obtained dismissive and slightly borderline disrespectful, however I simply needed to pull out the ability and simply allow them to know respect each facet of my sport. Each facet.
“It’s been some time not simply with getting again in right here however getting again within the win column. I battled lots of issues simply to get right here. Simply repairing my physique. Simply bodily, personally, lots of issues I suppose the expression can be combat lots of demons simply to get again in right here. Lots that I needed to undergo however fortunately I’m blessed with an ideal group, nice help system, nice household and I’m again right here.”
Instantly after getting the job completed, Usman received praise from his peers, with Belal Muhammad taking explicit curiosity within the outcome after the 2 former champions engaged in a bitter rivalry for the higher a part of the previous 12 months.
“Congrats, see you quickly,” Muhammad wrote on Twitter following Usman’s win.
Congrats see you quickly
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 15, 2025
Throughout his look on the UFC Atlanta post-fight press convention, Usman was requested about his curiosity in probably going through Muhammad if the UFC needed to make that combat occur.
“Who’s it?” Usman stated in response to Muhammad’s identify being talked about. “Who’s that? Subsequent.”
The dismissive reply from Usman earned a retort from Muhammad with a reminder about an notorious podcast episode they filmed collectively that allegedly ended with the fighters getting right into a bodily altercation. The episode has by no means been launched.
“The man who made you cry in your podcast,” Muhammad fired again after Usman stated “who” to his identify.
The man that made u cry on ur podcast
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 15, 2025
Whereas that back-and-forth undoubtedly obtained some consideration, Usman by no means broke his focus from what he actually desires and that’s a shot at reclaiming the welterweight title he held for over three years.
Proper now, reigning champion Jack Della Maddalena is gearing up for a showdown towards former light-weight king Islam Makhachev later this 12 months with a date for the combat nonetheless to be decided.
Usman believes he’s completely the perfect particular person suited to face the winner of that combat and that’s the one matchup he’s thinking about entertaining proper now.
“Let’s be trustworthy, I’m the most important within the division, that is about leisure,” Usman stated. “The UFC is an leisure firm. You need make the most important fights. It’s going to be the winner of [Jack Della Maddalena] and Islam [Makhachev].
“If Islam pulls that one out, former pound-for-pound [best]-current pound-for-pound [best]—who doesn’t pay for that?”
Usman had nothing however good issues to say about Makhachev and his possibilities to make an affect at 170 kilos, however he was additionally fast to dismiss that his transfer to a brand new division mechanically means he’s destined to develop into champion.
“JDM is not any slouch, let’s not look previous JDM,” Usman stated about Della Maddalena. “I stated that in his final combat, he went on the market and he confirmed you guys, don’t look previous him. He’s very, very proficient.
“Islam is extraordinarily proficient. I like Islam. I feel him coming in makes that division much more fascinating. If he’s capable of get in there and wrestle that belt away from JDM, former pound-for-pound, present pound-for-pound, I imply I feel everyone desires to observe that.”
As excited as he may be about Makhachev shifting to welterweight to problem Della Maddalena for the title, Usman wasn’t thinking about providing his prediction.
As a substitute, Usman simply plans to take a seat again and let that combat play out with hopes he’ll be the subsequent particular person in line to problem for the title.
“I’ll be watching that combat,” Usman stated. “I’ll take the winner.”
