Kamaru Usman has been in some very heated rivalries throughout his UFC profession, however he wouldn’t put Belal Muhammad in that very same class.
Regardless of loads of back-and-forth via interviews, podcasts, and social media, the previous UFC welterweight champion downplayed any actual animosity in the direction of Muhammad when addressing a possible battle between them. Whereas Muhammad already talked about his curiosity in combating Usman as he seems to be to get again into the title image following a loss to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, the “Nigerian Nightmare” didn’t return the favor when addressing the matchup throughout UFC Atlanta media day on Wednesday.
“Now right here’s the factor, when Belal Muhammad was champion, there was a motive to battle Belal Muhammad,” Usman stated. “He had the title. Let’s be trustworthy right here, we’re not the very best of associates, however I don’t want him any dangerous. He’s my Muslim brother, so I don’t want him any dangerous.
“However what do you need to supply me? You going to offer me a aspect deal? You going to throw me just a little additional money on the aspect? If he’s keen to try this, possibly. However who is aware of? I hope he’s recovering nicely. That was a troublesome loss. Hopefully, he bounces again.”
An enormous a part of the curiosity in Usman going through Muhammad additionally stems from a infamous podcast episode they filmed collectively that by no means ended up airing publicly. The animosity between them throughout recording apparently reached a fevered pitch with Usman’s co-host Henry Cejudo claiming “arms have been thrown, slaps got.”
Usman didn’t handle the podcast episode, however he stated from his aspect of issues, he has no animosity in the direction of Muhammad now.
After moving into some very ugly exchanges with Colby Covington and sharing a rivalry with Jorge Masvidal just a few years again, Usman simply doesn’t put his fracas with Muhammad on the identical stage.
“There was by no means dangerous blood,” Usman stated. “That was by no means actually the case. If you happen to take a look at the historical past, you take a look at myself and Colby Covington, that rivalry, which it’s over with, Colby is Colby, however that story, there was issues which can be lined up there with that one. With Belal, no, it’s only a man within the division that did nicely, ultimately turned champion, after which as soon as he turned champion, you actually begin to hear his voice just a little bit extra.
“At occasions, he was just a little bit annoying, however that was just about it. There’s no essentially dangerous blood between me and Belal. It’s what it’s. I want him nicely. If I’m champion, I’m positive he’s going to need to battle me. If he’s champion, I’m going to need to compete towards him for positive.”
First issues first, Usman has to get via Buckley at UFC Atlanta in his first battle again in practically two years.
He’s returning after a protracted layoff, however Usman says the time away was very helpful to him, particularly as he was lastly capable of heal up some nagging accidents.
“Simply being in a spot the place you may have a possibility to type of heal some accidents, you may have the chance to take a while off,” Usman stated. “I used to be fairly energetic there for ‘X’ variety of years, at the same time as a champion, so that you get to a spot the place it’s like possibly we are able to take a breath right here and see what’s subsequent.”
Maybe the largest query surrounding his well being facilities round Usman’s knees, which nearly turned a operating joke throughout his break day from the game.
He doesn’t low cost that he’s had points along with his knees previously, however Usman says he was truly at a a lot worse spot when he first joined the UFC again in 2015 than he’s forward of his nineteenth battle with the group.
“I’m good. Actually, actually, I’m good,” Usman stated. “It’s humorous as a result of that’s a operating knock — knees, knees, knees! They don’t notice [my] knees have been [actually] worse in my first battle within the UFC. My first battle, I used to be coming in proper off the again of a microfracture surgical procedure. Medical doctors say that’s about an eight-month restoration, and I fought 4 months after the surgical procedure. I don’t suppose individuals notice that it was worse earlier than.
“I do know it’s a operating joke, everybody likes to joke about it however I’ve been beating individuals’s asses with [these] knees. So it’s what it’s. They will say no matter they need. Saturday, we’re going to get in there, he’s going to punch me, I’m going to punch him, and we’re going to see who wins.”
Now at full well being with two functioning knees, Usman isn’t simply coming again with hopes that he can beat Buckley after which simply tackle whoever the UFC throws at him.
As a substitute, Usman insists that he’s nonetheless chasing championships, and he’s truly obtained a fairly bold plan in relation to his future within the sport.
“Being one hundred pc trustworthy, I imply completely. In fact, we need to be champions. If you happen to don’t need to be champion, what are you doing?” Usman stated. “My path there? Fairly easy. I simply laid out the map proper right here — end Buckley this weekend after which watch for the winner of I consider Islam [Makhachev] and JDM (Jack Della Maddelana), which I consider goes to be an unimaginable battle. Such a fantastic factor now having Islam come up now into the division. Who wouldn’t purchase a ticket to that? Former pound-for-pound and present pound-for-pound? I really like Islam. Islam’s a fantastic fighter. I believe that’s one thing we’d each bear in mind eternally.
“Win that and go forward and doubtless vacate, go up [to middleweight], myself and Dricus du Plessis if he’s the champion, or Khamzat Chimaev 2, if Dricus is not the champion. If Dricus is the champion, we do this within the first card in Africa. That’s one other blockbuster. These are back-to-back blockbuster fights that you just inform your grandkids about. Who wouldn’t watch these? Then after that, now you’re sitting with two belts, and it’s like, what can we do subsequent? That’s long-term objective behind my thoughts.”
