Kamaru Usman is selecting his fights rigorously, and he hopes followers perceive why.
In the event that they don’t, he has some not-so-friendly recommendation for them.
The previous UFC welterweight champion lately acknowledged that he was out there to struggle Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 after Rakhmonov was initially scheduled to struggle present titleholder Belal Muhammad. “Bear in mind the Title” was pressured to bow out of Saturday’s card with an harm, leaving a vacant spot on the promotion’s last pay-per-view of 2024, and Usman stated he could be positive with combating Rakhmonov on brief discover though they’ve educated on the similar gymnasium.
Ian Machado Garry finally acquired the decision to struggle Rakhmonov, and apparently Usman has acquired some flack from followers for his determination. On his Pound-4-Pound podcast, he responded to the criticism.
“That is an intriguing struggle,” Usman stated. “This can be a struggle that I used to be probably going to slip into. I’ve touched on this 1,000,000 occasions, which is loopy to me as a result of I’m seeing on-line individuals like, ‘Aw, you scared? You ducking? You ducking? You scared? You scared?’ What?
“I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ This is similar sentiment that I really feel like individuals are doing to Jon Jones. It’s identical to when individuals, the place you’re followers or followers of a fighter don’t get their desired want that they need, ‘That’s the struggle I need,’ then it’s like, ‘That man have to be scared as a result of he didn’t take the struggle.’ Like, guys, shut up. Shut up. We step in there every time—I’ve 22 or 25 fights, I don’t know what number of fights, however you assume everybody, ‘Oh, you scared.’ World champion and defending belts time and time once more, ‘Oh, he’s scared.’ Shut up. Simply since you didn’t get what you wished. Guess what, it’s like your mother telling you, ‘No, you’ll be able to’t have that toy immediately.’ So shut your mouth.”
Usman has not fought since UFC 294 in October 2023. At that occasion, Usman went up a weight class for a short-notice bout with the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. After a sluggish begin, Usman rebounded to provide Chimaev a troublesome contest, although he went on to lose by majority determination.
It’s unclear what Usman’s subsequent transfer will probably be as he appears to be like to finish a three-fight dropping streak (that features two title struggle losses to Leon Edwards), however he sees a path the place he finally shares the octagon with Rakhmonov or Garry.
“Actually, placing on my skilled hat, I can see a world the place Ian Garry will get this one completed, however I don’t actually care a lot for each guys so I don’t actually care,” Usman stated. “I’m not selecting. Whoever it’s, in some unspecified time in the future I’m going to must see and I’m going to must do what I do, however I don’t actually care. However I can see a world the place Ian will get it completed. Shavkat is excellent and really harmful, however I can see a world the place Ian will get it completed.”
Usman kept away from selecting a winner for the UFC 310 co-main occasion. Nonetheless, he warned that the extremely anticipated battle of undefeated welterweights may not dwell as much as the hype from an leisure standpoint.
“I’m not hating in any method, form, type, or trend, I really like the struggle on paper, however I don’t assume it’s going to be as thrilling as individuals assume,” Usman stated. “Persons are anticipating blood and this and that. I don’t assume it’s going to be that as a result of Ian Garry is a great fighter that’s prepared to simply dance round for half-hour. He’s going to bounce round. He’s prepared to try this with the intention to crate the house that he desires with the intention to attempt to land his strikes.
“Shavkat, not essentially. Shavkat’s going to play the sport with you for just a little bit, however Shavkat in some unspecified time in the future goes to need to get going, so if Ian doesn’t need to get going, we all know it takes two to tango. If Ian doesn’t need to get going, that struggle may not be the massacre that everyone’s anticipating, all people’s craving and going ‘ooh aah,’ however on paper I feel it’s a unbelievable struggle and any person’s O has acquired to go.”
