Kamaru Usman has his sights set on gold once more after dominating Joaquin Buckley within the UFC Atlanta predominant occasion and he’s not eager about anything—together with a longstanding grudge with one other former champion.
Following a showcase efficiency in his first combat again in almost 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 slightly simply utilizing wrestling to fully stifle Buckley for almost all of the 25-minute battle.
“Due to that combat [against Khamzat Chimaev], it’s nearly like they forgot I might f*cking wrestle,” Usman mentioned referencing his final loss. “They acquired dismissive and a bit of borderline disrespectful, however I simply needed to pull out the talent and simply allow them to know respect each side of my sport. Each side.
“It’s been some time not simply with getting again in right here however getting again within the win column. I battled quite a lot of issues simply to get right here. Simply repairing my physique. Simply bodily, personally, quite a lot of issues I suppose the expression could be combat quite a lot of demons simply to get again in right here. So much that I needed to undergo however fortunately I’m blessed with an important workforce, nice help system, nice household and I’m again right here.”
Instantly after getting the job completed, Usman acquired reward from his friends, with Belal Muhammad taking specific curiosity within the consequence 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 wished to make that combat occur.
“Who’s it?” Usman mentioned in response to Muhammad’s title 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 mentioned “who” to his title.
The man that made u cry on ur podcast
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 15, 2025
Whereas that back-and-forth positively acquired some consideration, Usman by no means broke his focus from what he actually needs 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 individual suited to face the winner of that combat and that’s the one matchup he’s eager about entertaining proper now.
“Let’s be sincere, I’m the largest within the division, that is about leisure,” Usman mentioned. “The UFC is an leisure firm. You need make the largest 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 impression at 170 kilos, however he was additionally fast to dismiss that his transfer to a brand new division routinely means he’s destined to grow to be champion.
“JDM isn’t any slouch, let’s not look previous JDM,” Usman mentioned about Della Maddalena. “I mentioned that in his final combat, he went on the market and he confirmed you guys, don’t look previous him. He’s very, very gifted.
“Islam is extraordinarily gifted. I really like Islam. I believe him coming in makes that division much more attention-grabbing. If he’s in a position to get in there and wrestle that belt away from JDM, former pound-for-pound, present pound-for-pound, I imply I believe all people needs to look at that.”
As excited as he is likely to be about Makhachev shifting to welterweight to problem Della Maddalena for the title, Usman wasn’t eager about providing his prediction.
As an alternative, Usman simply plans to sit down again and let that combat play out with hopes he’ll be the subsequent individual in line to problem for the title.
“I’ll be watching that combat,” Usman mentioned. “I’ll take the winner.”
