Kamaru Usman says there’s no love misplaced between him and UFC welterweight champ Belal Muhammad.
Each males have fights booked. Muhammad is headlining UFC 315 this Saturday in his first title protection in opposition to Jack Della Maddalena, whereas Usman returns for the primary time in practically two years when he faces Joaquin Buckley in the primary occasion of UFC Atlanta.
Since Muhammad received the title, Usman mentioned the brand new champ started taking his social media purpose at him, and Usman mentioned he’d somewhat discuss it out — which they tried to do on an notorious, unreleased episode of his podcast Pound 4 Pound, with co-host Henry Cejudo. Issues bought heated, however no different data was revealed exterior of that, however issues have gotten to a degree that if he bumped into Muhammad backstage at a UFC occasion, it might pop off.
“Most likely,” Usman informed ESPN MMA. “I say that as a result of, clearly, I’m very level-headed — particularly after I’m exterior of the cage — however for the final nearly two years, 12 months and a half, I haven’t been within the thick of it. There’s a factor, there’s a transition. While you’re not in it, and folks count on us to be these fighters and we’re at all times on go mode to the place I’m exterior of the cage, persons are like, ‘Why are you so calm? You’re a scary fighter.’
“However I’m not like that, and so whenever you’re within the thick of it, you’re on alert. Even me and Georges St-Pierre, we had this dialog the place he expressed that to me. … However now that I’m again within the thick of it, yeah, you in all probability should have safety again there with us.”
Muhammad is unbeaten in his previous 11 fights, and has fought his method up the divisional ranks earlier than incomes his title shot at UFC 304 this previous July. “Keep in mind the Identify” dominated Leon Edwards to seize UFC gold for the primary time.
Whereas being on such an extended profitable streak is spectacular, title defenses are the important thing stat with regards to being ranked among the many division’s all-time greats. Usman was requested if Muhammad has the power to hitch the likes of Matt Hughes, Georges St-Pierre, and himself, and put collectively a generational run as champ at 170 kilos.
“I believe so,” Usman defined. “I believe so as a result of to be able to actually have a stronghold on a divsion, it’s a must to be ok in all places. Within the divisions the place you see [the title] change arms time and again, normally the champion is missing some kind of talent. …
“And now Belal is in a spot the place [like Hughes, St-Pierre, and myself], he can form of do all the things fairly good. We haven’t actually seen his punching energy, however now that he’s champion, give him time to probably work on being assured in that facet, we would have the ability to see it. So yeah, I believe there’s potential, however that’s solely outlined if you’ll be able to get by all these completely different form of guys like myself, like a Buckley, like a [Michael Morales], like an Ian [Machado] Garry, and Shavkat Rakhmonov. If you’ll be able to get by these various kinds of challenges, then you’ll be able to say you’ve constructed a pleasant form of legacy for your self.”
