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Kamaru
Usman has no interest in settling the score with Belal
Muhammad.
Shortly after “The Nigerian Nightmare” made a triumphant return to
the Octagon with a unanimous decision victory over Joaquin
Buckley in the UFC
Atlanta headliner, Muhammad congratulated Usman on his win
while adding, “See you soon.”
Congrats see you soon
— Belal
Muhammad (@bullyb170)
June 15, 2025
When Muhammad’s post was mentioned to him at Saturday’s post fight
press conference, Usman replied: Who is it? Who’s that? Next.”
The guy that made u cry on ur podcast
— Belal
Muhammad (@bullyb170)
June 15, 2025
The rivalry between the two former welterweight champions reached a
boiling point during a recent podcast, when Usman and Muhammad
allegedy came to blows. The footage from that incident has not been
released, and it appears that Usman is more focused on regaining
welterweight gold.
Newly-crowned welterweight champ Jack
Della Maddalena is expected to defend the belt against former
lightweight ruler Islam
Makhachev at a future event, and Usman is already calling
next.
“Let’s be honest, I’m the biggest in the division,” Usman said.
“This is about entertainment. The UFC is an entertainment company.
You want to make the biggest fight. It’s going to be the winner of
JDM and Islam. If Islam pulls that one out, former pound-for-pound,
current pound-for-pound – who doesn’t pay for that?”
In his first fight since October 2023, Usman showed no signs of
ring rust as he grounded Buckley repeatedly for the first 20
minutes before surving a scare in the final frame. It was a
reminder of why “The Nigerian Nightmare” was in welterweight GOAT
conversations during a 15-bout winning streak in the UFC from 2015
to 2021.
“It’s been a while not just with getting back in here but getting
back in the win column,” Usman said. “I battled a lot of things
just to get here. Just repairing my body. Just physically,
personally, a lot of things I guess the expression would be fight a
lot of demons just to get back in here. A lot that I had to go
through but thankfully I’m blessed with a great team, great support
system, great family and I’m back here.”
Now that he’s back, Usman has his sights set on the biggest fights
possible. In an ideal world, that would be a date against Makhachev
with the 170-pound strap on the line.
“JDM’s no slouch,” Usman said. “I’ve said that in his last fight,
and he went out there and showed you guys, don’t look past him.
He’s very, very talented. Islam is extremely talented. I love
Islam. I think him coming in makes the division a lot more
interesting. If he’s able to get in there and wrestle that belt
away from JDM, former pound-for-pound, current pound-for-pound, I
mean, I think everyone wants to watch that.”
