Kamaru Usman is clearing the air.
Final week, Roku aired Combat Inc: Inside The UFC, a documentary giving followers a behind-the-scenes have a look at the inside workings of the worldwide MMA juggernaut. In one of many segments, CEO Dana White is within the ‘Warfare Room’ going over potential matchups for rising welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov. One man listed as a possible opponent was the previous 170-pound champion.
Because it turned out, Usman’s supervisor, Ali Abdelaziz, was within the services kitchen with one other shopper of his, former light-weight titleholder Khabib Nurmagomedov. White approached the pair and proposed the potential struggle to Abdelaziz. After listening to White out, the Dominance MMA founder revealed that the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ was holding out for a struggle with perennial contender Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson.
That prompted Nurmagomedov to chime in, suggesting {that a} struggle with Rakhmonov would do far more for Usman than a scrap with Thompson.
“, one of many issues that makes you the best fighter, while you’re 36/37 (years previous) and you’ve got 15 (struggle win streak), you defend the title many instances (again within the day) and also you make it possible to shine for youthful guys, that is what makes you nice, that is what I feel,” Nurmagomedov mentioned.
“You’re completely proper,” White replied, “That is what I attempt to inform your supervisor each time we make a struggle.”
Kamaru Usman reacts to Contained in the UFC documentary
Reacting to the clip, Usman identified that the documentary was filmed a 12 months in the past. Extra importantly, the footage in query happened earlier than he had accepted a short-notice alternative in opposition to undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294.
“At the start, I’m not even within the sport proper now, in order that’s the least of (my worries), I’m not even apprehensive about any of that,” Usman defined on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. “After that, guess what? I stepped in there on 9 days’ discover and fought probably essentially the most harmful man within the UFC at the moment, Khamzat Chimaev.”
Usman is at present driving a three-fight dropping streak, having misplaced back-to-back welterweight title fights in opposition to present champion Leon Edwards earlier than arising brief in opposition to ‘Borz’ in Abu Dhabi.
“After I do get again into the Octagon, I don’t give a flying frick who it’s, if it’s cousin John, if it’s this man, if it’s that man, if it’s Shavkat, if it’s (Jack Della Maddalena), if it’s Leon Edwards or if it’s Belal (Muhammad), I don’t care who it’s,” Usman added. “When I’m able to step again into the Octagon and I wish to struggle someone, I don’t give a sh*t, I’ll struggle who I have to struggle.”
