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 by way of interviews, podcasts, and social media, the previous UFC welterweight champion downplayed any actual animosity in the direction of Muhammad when addressing a possible combat between them. Whereas Muhammad already talked about his curiosity in preventing Usman as he appears 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 combat Belal Muhammad,” Usman mentioned. “He had the title. Let’s be trustworthy right here, we’re not the perfect of mates, however I don’t want him any dangerous. He’s my Muslim brother, so I don’t want him any dangerous.
“However what do it’s important to provide me? You going to offer me a facet deal? You going to throw me a bit further money on the facet? If he’s keen to do this, perhaps. 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 “palms have been thrown, slaps got.”
Usman didn’t tackle the podcast episode, however he mentioned from his facet of issues, he has no animosity in the direction of Muhammad now.
After stepping into some very ugly exchanges with Colby Covington and sharing a rivalry with Jorge Masvidal a number of years again, Usman simply doesn’t put his fracas with Muhammad on the identical stage.
“There was by no means dangerous blood,” Usman mentioned. “That was by no means actually the case. When you 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 might be lined up there with that one. With Belal, no, it’s only a man within the division that did nicely, finally turned champion, after which as soon as he turned champion, you actually begin to hear his voice a bit bit extra.
“At instances, he was a bit 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 certain he’s going to need to combat me. If he’s champion, I’m going to need to compete towards him for certain.”
First issues first, Usman has to get by way of Buckley at UFC Atlanta in his first combat again in almost two years.
He’s returning after an extended layoff, however Usman says the time away was very helpful to him, particularly as he was lastly in a position to heal up some nagging accidents.
“Simply being in a spot the place you’ve a chance to type of heal some accidents, you’ve the chance to take a while off,” Usman mentioned. “I used to be fairly energetic there for ‘X’ variety of years, whilst a champion, so that you get to a spot the place it’s like perhaps we are able to take a breath right here and see what’s subsequent.”
Maybe the most important query surrounding his well being facilities round Usman’s knees, which just about 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 prior to now, 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 combat with the group.
“I’m good. Actually, actually, I’m good,” Usman mentioned. “It’s humorous as a result of that’s a operating knock — knees, knees, knees! They don’t understand [my] knees have been [actually] worse in my first combat within the UFC. My first combat, I used to be coming in proper off the again of a microfracture surgical procedure. Docs say that’s about an eight-month restoration, and I fought 4 months after the surgical procedure. I don’t suppose individuals understand 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’ll 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 an alternative, Usman insists that he’s nonetheless chasing championships, and he’s truly acquired a fairly formidable plan with regards to his future within the sport.
“Being one hundred pc trustworthy, I imply completely. After all, we need to be champions. When you don’t need to be champion, what are you doing?” Usman mentioned. “My path there? Fairly easy. I simply laid out the map proper right here — end Buckley this weekend after which look ahead to the winner of I imagine Islam [Makhachev] and JDM (Jack Della Maddelana), which I imagine goes to be an unbelievable combat. Such an awesome 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 an awesome fighter. I believe that’s one thing we might each keep in mind perpetually.
“Win that and go forward and possibly vacate, go up [to middleweight], myself and Dricus du Plessis if he’s the champion, or Khamzat Chimaev 2, if Dricus is now not the champion. If Dricus is the champion, we try this within the first card in Africa. That’s one other blockbuster. These are back-to-back blockbuster fights that you simply 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 aim at the back of my thoughts.”
