Kamaru Usman has loved a prolonged reign as UFC champion earlier than, and he’d wish to expertise that feeling another time earlier than it’s all stated and completed.
Not solely that, however Usman would additionally like to beat a wholly new division. The previous welterweight champion declared in a YouTube vlog that one among his targets as he enters the ultimate fights of his profession is to say the 170-pound title once more after which transfer as much as 185 kilos for another championship alternative.
“On this a part of my profession, it’s the dream state of affairs is subsequent struggle, win the welterweight title,” Usman stated. “Vacate. Win the middleweight title. Retire. Simply increase increase, one, two, after which be completed. As a result of you’ll be able to’t high that. What else do I would like?”
Usman owns one of the crucial profitable runs in UFC historical past, having gained his first 15 fights for the promotion after making his debut in 2015. He defeated Tyron Woodley for the welterweight title at UFC 235 and went on to document 5 consecutive title defenses. After dropping the belt to rival Leon Edwards after which once more falling to Edwards in a rematch, Usman made a quick transfer as much as middleweight on quick discover to struggle Khamzat Chimaev, leading to his third straight loss. He not too long ago snapped that dropping streak by defeating Joaquin Buckley this previous June.
The 38-year-old was requested about his mindset going into fights at this stage of his profession, and he defined how his motivation has modified.
“Completely, you’re enthusiastic about the struggle,” Usman stated. “Once you’re going into the struggle, it’s not a lot I’m afraid of being harm. ‘I’m afraid this man may harm me.’ No, you’re not afraid of that anymore. It’s loopy how the entire level of it’s you’re afraid of dropping. Like, man, I did all this work, I can’t lose. I can’t lose. That turns into the worry, which finally can both hinder you or truly put you in a spot the place you carry out to higher than your expectations.”
