Tag: Kamaru Usman

Kamaru Usman: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry only exciting ‘on paper’

Kamaru Usman won’t be surprised if the UFC 310 co-main event is “not the most electrifying fight that we’ve ever seen.”

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] isn’t confident that [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Ian Machado Garry[/autotag] will deliver action at UFC 310.

Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) takes on Garry (15-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in a five-round welterweight co-main event Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Rakhmonov vs. Garry is a battle between two undefeated top contenders. Despite Rakhmonov boasting a 100 percent finish rate, Usman thinks Garry’s recent performances won’t result in the exciting matchup everyone is projecting.

“I like the matchup, but we have a tendency to get excited for these Ian Garry matchups, and they don’t turn out the way we think,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “I’m being honest. Did I not say the same thing about the Michael ‘Venom’ Page fight? That’s not a knock. It’s just the way that Ian Garry likes to fight. Ian Garry is a guy that loves space. He loves to make it look pretty. He loves to run off his combinations and move, move, move.

“Make it look pretty to where you have a guy like Shavkat, who is kind of a seek and destroy type of guy. He wants to get into the action. So, I like the matchup, of course. … I think it’s a good fight. Shavkat is going to come forward. He’s going to try to seek and destroy as he always does, and Ian Garry is going to move around to create the space, to try to find the good strikes. So, it’s a good fight on paper. I don’t know how it’s going to look on fight night.”

Having trained with both fighters at Kill Cliff FC, former UFC welterweight champion Usman didn’t address the rumors of Rakhmonov getting the best of Garry in practice. He expects their history on the training mats to add a little spice to the buildup.

“It’s an intriguing fight because there’s a little bit of backstory,” Usman said. “So, I think it’s going to make for a little bit more animosity as we get closer to the fight, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not the most electrifying fight that we’ve ever seen like we’re expecting.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.

Kamaru Usman says Shavkat Rakhmonov ‘a very winnable fight,’ but UFC 310 might be too soon

Kamaru Usman admits UFC 310 may be too soon for him to compete.

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] admits UFC 310 may be too soon for him to compete.

[autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag] (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) was scheduled to challenge welterweight champion Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in the Dec. 7 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but Muhammad was forced out due to a bone infection in his foot.

Former UFC welterweight champion Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) expressed interest in stepping in against Rakhmonov. He’s currently in Colorado getting ready in case he gets the call, and is confident in how he matches up against undefeated Rakhmonov.

However, Usman has a bit of an issue with the date of the fight.

“To be honest, it’s a fight that I’ve looked at, and I know it’s definitely a very, very winnable fight,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “And I know that I can, of all people, go out there and expose what hasn’t been exposed in a young, hungry, streaky guy in Shavkat Rakhmonov.

“He’s very talented, and he’s very, very good. But I do see the holes, and I think that I can exploit that when that time is right. But Dec. 7 might be a little too early for that time. So that’s where I’m at.”

The most recent time Usman competed was also on short notice. He stepped in to face another undefeated phenom in Khamzat Chimaev, pushing him to the brink in a majority decision loss at UFC 294 in October 2023. “The Nigerian Nightmare” currently is on a three-fight losing skid, with two of those losses coming back-to-back to Leon Edwards in title fights.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.

Kamaru Usman breaks silence on potential UFC 310 fight vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov

Kamaru Usman expressed a willingness to step in on short notice at UFC 310 but wasn’t clear about being contacted by UFC matchmakers.

It’s been a week since welterweight champion Belal Muhammad revealed news of a foot infection forced him out of UFC 310, and there’s been a lot of talk about what will happen with his opponent, [autotag]Shavkhat Rakhmonov[/autotag], but still nothing has been set.

One possibility being talked about is for Rakhmonov to meet former 170-pound champ [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] for an interim belt at the Dec. 7 pay-per-view event from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While Rakhmonov has lobbied for that matchup to take place, things are still up in the air.

On Thursday’s episode of his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman expressed a willingness to step in on short notice but wasn’t clear about being contacted by UFC matchmakers as he commented on the situation for the first time.

“The UFC is gonna call who they think is gonna be legit tough enough and man enough to step in there, is crazy enough to step in there on short notice, and go out there and possibly shock the world,” Usman said. “Definitely the UFC knows who to call when that situation happens. And if they do give me a call, I’m gonna answer the call, get a couple things straight, and if we’ve got to do it, we’ve got to do it. I don’t shy away from any of that.”

Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) has been called upon for two major short-notice fights in recent years. While he was champion, he accepted a fight with Jorge Masvidal on six days’ notice in July 2020 at UFC 251. Usman last year stepped in on less than two weeks’ notice to fight Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight bout at UFC 294. Usman beat Masvidal by unanimous decision but lost a majority decision to Chimaev.

Usman, 37, is on a three-fight losing, having not competed since the loss to Chimaev in October 2023. Prior to that, Usman dropped back-to-back title fights against Leon Edwards – first losing his title by fifth-round knockout at UFC 278 then coming up short in the rematch (trilogy) by majority decision at UFC 286.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.

Shavkat Rakhmonov lobbies for UFC 310 interim title fight vs. Kamaru Usman

Shavkat Rakhmonov is willing to save UFC 310, preferably by fighting for the interim welterweight title.

[autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag] is willing to save UFC 310, preferably by fighting for the interim welterweight title.

Rakhmonov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) was scheduled to challenge champion Belal Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) in the Dec. 7 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but Muhammad was forced out due to a bone infection in his foot.

Having not competed since submitting Stephen Thompson this past December at UFC 296, undefeated Rakhmonov is eager for his title opportunity. He suggested an interim welterweight title fight vs. former champ [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC).

“I believe there are worthy opponents available,” Rakhmonov said through an interpreter on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I’m ready to save the card too if it’s for the interim belt. I believe Usman is a worthy opponent who’s going to be ready to jump in to face me.”

Rakhmonov’s manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, revealed that the UFC is currently working on finding him an opponent for UFC 310.

“Right now, negotiations are going on,” Abdrakhmanov said. “Obviously there’s talking. I don’t know if they are talking to someone else, but I’m sure they offered it to Kamaru, too.”

Muhammad dismissed the idea of an interim title, claiming that he only needs six weeks to heal. Rakhmonov expects Muhammad to be out for longer than that and thinks winning the interim belt would only make their fight bigger.

“We don’t know when Belal is going to be back,” Rakhmonov said. “These kind of injuries, infections, they might say it’s six weeks, but look at JDM (Jack Della Maddalena). It took him a lot longer. It’s good for Belal, too, because it’s going to make the fight bigger. It’s going to be champ vs. champ, so whenever Belal is ready, after I secure the interim title, I’m going to fight him.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.

Kamaru Usman: BMF title ‘a hypothetical that was made up because of me’

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is not a fan of the BMF title.

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] is not a fan of the BMF title.

The inaugural belt was introduced when Jorge Masvidal fought Nate Diaz at UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden. After Masvidal stopped Diaz to claim the title, he stepped in on just days’ notice to challenge then-welterweight champion Usman at UFC 251. He lost the bout by unanimous decision. The pair rematched at UFC 261, but Masvidal lost by knockout.

After Masvidal retired, the BMF title was brought back when Justin Gaethje knocked out Dustin Poirier at UFC 291. “The Highlight” then lost his BMF title to Max Holloway, also by knockout at UFC 300.

Usman went off on the significance of the belt.

“Why are we talking about this like this is a real title? It’s not,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “This was a hypothetical that was made up because of me. Let’s not forget that myself and Covington were supposed to fight in MSG in New York. The fight didn’t happen. They needed a fight to headline that card. They needed something with some steam. It’s MSG. You can’t just put any fight card at MSG. You got to come correct when you come to MSG.

“So, at that point, what’s the hottest ticket out there? Jorge ‘Gamebred’ Masvidal. Of course, you have Nate Diaz with his mystique that he always carries. Nate Diaz had already called out Masvidal in his previous fight where he said, ‘Not too many gangsters doing it like him.’ Dana jumps on, ‘How do we promote this fight? Let’s create this, all right. It’s called the Baddest Mother F*cker belt.’ Come on. Are you serious? That’s why it started.”

Usman also pointed out that every time a fighter wins the BMF title, they lose their next fight by knockout. Current BMF champion Holloway is coming off a knockout loss to featherweight champion Ilia Topuria in Saturday’s UFC 308 main event in Abu Dhabi.

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Kamaru Usman: Khamzat Chimaev ‘100 percent’ can take down Dricus Du Plessis, not sure if he finishes

Kamaru Usman admits Khamzat Chimaev is “hell in that first round,” but he’s not sure that’s enough to beat UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis.

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] doesn’t doubt [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]’s chances of taking UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] down to the ground.

Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) dominated former champ Robert Whittaker to earn a first-round submission in Saturday’s UFC 308 co-main event in Abu Dhabi. Usman has first-hand experience of Chimaev’s strength. Usman was taken down and controlled for all of Round 1 of their matchup at UFC 294, but he managed to survive the onslaught. He wound up losing the bout by majority decision after rallying late.

Just like how Chimaev managed to control Whittaker, Usman doesn’t see it going any differently for Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) – but maybe not a finish.

“Khamzat is hell in that first round,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “He is hell when he’s dry like that, and he’s big and strong, and he still moves like a welterweight. It’s hell for anybody. Do I think he can do that to Dricus? I think 100 percent he could take Dricus down.

“I think he can keep him down, but I don’t know if he can get the finish because Dricus is very, very tough. There’s a reason Dricus is the champ. He’s very tough, and Dricus will not stop trying. Will Khamzat take him down? Yes. Could he keep him down? Yes, maybe the whole first round. But can he finish him? I don’t know.”

Chimaev’s performance got middleweight champion Du Plessis’ attention, and he could end up leapfrogging Sean Strickland as No. 1 contender after UFC 308.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Joaquin Buckley responds to Kamaru Usman’s line-cutting attempt: ‘Sh*t shouldn’t be given to you’

Joaquin Buckley thinks Kamaru Usman should have to work his way back up to the title picture.

[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] should have to work his way back up to the title picture.

Buckley (21-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) called out Usman after knocking out former title challenger Stephen Thompson less than two weeks ago at UFC 307. Buckley was dismissed by Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC), who told him to get in line.

Usman was trading barbs with welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, but with the former champion being on a three-fight losing skid, Buckley says fighting him in a No. 1 contender bout makes sense.

“That’s the funny thing: Who’s in line?” Buckley said in an interview with Parry Punch. “The crazy part about Belal was, like, Usman doesn’t even deserve a title shot. Plus, he said Shavkat is an easier fight than Usman, and that’s what I believe that the UFC is going to make, the Shavkat vs. Belal. Usman, nobody calls him out, that’s still a great name. The last fight he had was with Khamzat (Chimaev), so it’s been a whole year. Come and get this work. Come and get paid at least.”

Muhammad did end up getting booked against Shavkat Rakhmonov for his first title defense, which headlines UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas. Buckley thinks Usman needs at least one win before fighting for the title again.

“He’s just waiting on the opportunity to have that big fight, which is fighting for a title. But my thing is, that sh*t shouldn’t be given to you,” Buckley said. “You should work for that.

“Just because you’ve been a former champion, just because you held the belt for a good amount of time, doesn’t give you the right to come back and just be like, ‘Aight, I get to fight for the belt again.’ You’re still not accounting those three losses you done had. So prove to the world that you still have the ability to fight for a belt.”

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Kamaru Usman responds to Joaquin Buckley’s callout: ‘Take a number and get in line’

Former UFC champion Kamaru Usman has brushed off Joaquin Buckley’s callout.

Former UFC welterweight champion [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] has brushed off [autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag]’s callout.

Buckley (21-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) issued a challenge to Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) after scoring a third-round knockout of former title challenger Stephen Thompson on Saturday at UFC 307. Buckley is now 5-0 at welterweight in the UFC and was praised by Daniel Cormier for his callout. Usman dismissed Buckley but didn’t imply that he wouldn’t fight him if offered.

“Take a number and get in line,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “I believe he’s probably, what, the 10th, 11th guy? I don’t know how many guys have called me out. It is what it is. It’s obviously, like DC said, it’s a more reasonable callout for him because he is on the streak. He’s been doing good work inside there. I believe he was losing that fight, and it was just a way to be relentless and find the shot eventually to get that finish. So, you know, hats off to him.

“He did a great job. If that’s the fight, then that’s the fight. If it’s not, it’s not. Obviously right now I’m working on myself and trying to get myself back, because I’ve fought injured for so long to where I achieved all the things I’ve achieved, but at some point it does catch up to you. You have to sit down and correct some of those mistakes. But, like I said, I ain’t going nowhere. I’m still here, and eventually I will get in there and show the people that I am once again the king.”

Usman, 37, hasn’t competed since a majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight in October 2023. The short-notice setback to Chimaev was his third straight after suffering back-to-back title losses to Leon Edwards.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Kamaru Usman predicts Khalil Rountree ‘shocks the world’ at UFC 307: ‘Crazy things happen in Utah’

Kamaru Usman sees Khalil Rountree pulling off a huge upset against Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] sees [autotag]Khalil Rountree[/autotag] pulling off a huge upset at UFC 307.

Rountree challenges light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] in Saturday’s UFC 307 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) headliner at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

With Rountree (14-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) vowing not to shoot any takedowns, many see him as a favorable matchup for Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC). But Usman has a gut feeling that Rountree will surprise everyone – especially since the fight is in Utah, where Usman lost his welterweight title in stunning fashion to Leon Edwards at UFC 278.

“I’m going to shock everybody here. I think you are wrong why you are saying that everyone stands and strikes with (Pereira) and they lose? I think Khalil Rountree shocks the world – shocks the world,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “Crazy things happen in Utah, and look at our champions right now. Khalil Rountree is extremely explosive, extremely powerful, his muay Thai is incredible. When he’s launching them, he’s going to find your face. The problem is his pace.

“When Khalil lets go, he lets everything go. And how is he going to do in Rounds 3, 4 and 5 if the fight somehow gets there? That’s my only concern. But in those first two rounds, I’m telling you right now that Khalil Rountree is as dangerous as anyone Alex Pereira has fought. I’m telling you right now. With his story, with everything that he’s been through, man, what a way to cap that off by letting the world and future generations know that you can start here, completely change your life, and end here.”

According to DraftKings, Rountree is a +390 underdog against Pereira, who’s a big -520 favorite.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Belal Muhammad prefers first title defense against Shavkat Rakhmonov over Kamaru Usman: ‘He has more aura’

Belal Muhammad has zeroed in on who he wants for his first title defense.

[autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] has zeroed in on who he wants for his first title defense.

Welterweight champion Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) has been trading barbs with former champion [autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC), but admits a fight against undefeated [autotag]Shavkat Rakhmonov[/autotag] (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) does more for his career.

Usman has lost two straight title fights to Leon Edwards, followed by a majority decision to Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight. Although Usman is widely considered one of the greatest welterweights of all time, Muhammad sees Rakhmonov as a better option.

“For me now, I would rather it be Shavkat,” Muhammad told Kevin Iole. “I think he has more aura. He has the undefeated (part) about him. There’s no excuses after beating him. If I go out there and beat Usman, Usman’s on a three-fight losing streak. He’s old. He’s on his way out.

“I think he needs another win to get in the mix and show that he’s still hungry, to show that he still has tread on the tires. But I want Shavkat more. You look at the other guys, Ian (Machado Garry) isn’t even calling for it. (Jack Della Maddalena), I think he’s still hurt. I think it would be between Shavkat and Usman, and between those two, Shavkat makes more sense.”

Muhammad wants to build an undeniable legacy at welterweight, and is willing to knock off every rising contender to prove his worth.

“The goal was always gold. Now, it’s what’s the next thing you want to chase?” Muhammad said. “Now I want to be the GOAT of the welterweights. I want to chase (Georges St-Pierre). Now I want to chase that aura, being on that Mount Rushmore.

“When you think of the best welterweights, I want to be up there with those guys. To do that, I’m going to need some title defenses. To do that, I’m going to have to beat a lot of the younger guys that they’re saying are better than me.”

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