UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman recently stated his stance on a potential fight against middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya, asserting that he had no interest in competing against his fellow Nigerian.
Usman was recently seen facing off with former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz backstage at UFC 276.
He previously revealed plans to skip the middleweight division and make the move directly to light heavyweight to compete for the 205 lbs strap.
While in conversation with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ confirmed these claims. Usman offered fans some knowledge about the uncomfortable feeling that he felt with colleagues, saying it was a refreshing feeling not to be worried about the possibility of entertaining a challenge from Adesanya.
He further said that he was glad to see Adesanya dominate the 185-pound division.
“It’s refreshing to be around a guy and not be sizing him up, you know? Because like I feel it. I’m around guys like Charles Oliveira and I feel it. I feel that heat a little bit… It is an uncomfortable feeling to be able to be around. But it keeps you on your toes and, you know, it’s refreshing not to be doing that with (Adesanya), you know?”
The UFC welterweight champion and MMA Fighting’s No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, Usman is officially set to face Leon Edwards in a rematch on Aug. 20 in Salt Lake City. The UFC announced the long-rumoured bout during the pay-per-view broadcast for UFC 275, and online oddsmakers already like Usman’s chances at defeating Edwards for a second time.
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