Kamaru Usman, the previous UFC welterweight champion, responds to Khamzat Chimaev’s calls for and sheds gentle on his future plans within the UFC. Usman acknowledges the enchantment of a possible struggle with Chimaev. Nonetheless, he clarifies that the struggle gained’t occur anytime quickly, as Chimaev’s subsequent bout is scheduled within the middleweight division towards Paulo Costa at UFC 294 in October.
Usman and Chimaev lately exchanged public feedback about why their struggle hasn’t materialized but, with Chimaev questioning Usman’s reluctance to maneuver up. Usman, nonetheless, addresses these feedback and factors out the explanations behind the delay. Usman displays on his earlier struggle towards Leon Edwards, the place he did not regain the welterweight title. Regardless of the loss, he goals to bounce again this yr and regain his momentum.
Relating to a possible struggle with Chimaev, Usman emphasizes that it has to make sense and acknowledges the consensus that the matchup can be intriguing. Nevertheless, he highlights Chimaev’s restricted expertise within the UFC, with solely 5 fights and one towards a ranked opponent, resulting in his excessive rating within the division.
Usman dismisses Chimaev’s suggestion that he transfer as much as middleweight for the struggle, asserting he’s the previous champion and top-ranked within the division. He expresses his frustration with Chimaev’s calls for and views them as disrespectful to the game. Usman had supplied a catchweight compromise, however Chimaev declined and insisted on a middleweight struggle. Usman finds this demand unreasonable, given Chimaev’s restricted accomplishments within the sport.
Usman addresses his future opponents within the welterweight division. He mentions fighters like Shavkat Rakhmonov and Stephen Thompson as potential opponents. Whereas Rakhmonov has educated with Usman, making the struggle much less interesting, Usman is open to going through Thompson attributable to his status and difficult combating type. Usman additionally considers Belal Muhammad a possible opponent attributable to his spectacular unbeaten streak and up to date victory over Gilbert Burns. Nevertheless, he acknowledges {that a} struggle with Muhammad would require each fighters to danger their title hopes.
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