Kamaru Usman has no time for disrespect.
The former UFC welterweight champion fell under some critique this week, or his manager Ali Abdelaziz did, for that matter. It was a bit of a combined reaction after the Dominance MMA head was seen in an episode of the new UFC docuseries Fight Inc. declining an offer for Usman to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov because he preferred a matchup against Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.
As clarified by Usman, the footage was not recent and ultimately led to him stepping in on short notice to fight Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight affair at UFC 294 this past October. Rakhmonov, on the other hand, went on to fight and defeat Thompson via second-round rear-naked choke at UFC 296 two months later.
“This was done a year ago,” Usman said on Pound 4 Pound. “After that, guess what? I stepped in there on nine days’ notice and fought possibly the most dangerous guy in the UFC at that time Khamzat Chimaev. So what you saying? There’s nothing to say.
“When I do get back into the octagon, I don’t give a flying frick who it is. If it’s cousin John, if it’s this guy, if it’s that guy, if it’s Shavkat, if it’s ‘JDM’ (Jack Della Maddalena), if it’s Leon Edwards or if it’s Belal [Muhammad], I don’t care who it is. When I am ready to step back into the octagon and I want to fight somebody, I don’t give a sh*t, I’ll fight who I need to fight.”
Usman, 37, hasn’t fought since the Chimaev clash, which saw him lose a third consecutive bout when the judges scored the fight a majority decision for “Borz.” Directly prior, he dropped two title outings to his aforementioned rival Edwards.
The surging undefeated 18-0 star contender Rakhmonov has played with some of the responses and reactions to the Usman negotiations, previously claiming Usman didn’t want the fight. He also shared some old training footage of him and Usman, which the “Nigerian Nightmare” didn’t take kindly to.
Usman has options between welterweight and middleweight at this juncture in his career. However, he won’t rush back on anyone else’s time.
“You don’t become champion and defend over and over and over and over because you’re scared to fight somebody,” Usman said. “Like, shut up.
“I’ve moved around with him (Rakhmonov) a little bit to kind of give him a look. He tweeted a picture of me, Leon, and Colby [Covington] under a rock or something. I’m gonna save that photo. This is one of those things because he does come down here in south Florida to train at a gym that I’ve been training at before he was even hanging — don’t pull me down because now the competitor in me is gonna come out and I’m gonna start talking sh*t. Listen, I’m not even in that place, but before he was dreaming of fighting in the UFC, I’ve been in this gym training and doing whatever, and helping my guys get to the top while I got to the top. It is what it is.
“There’s a thing called respect and you show the respect in order for you to get the respect,” Usman concluded. “When it’s time for me to come out and dance, I step in that octagon and I dance all over motherf*ckers.”
Boom. Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler off; Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2 now headlines UFC 303
Fights. PFL 4 Results: Moldavsky vs. Vassell
Change. Khamzat Chimaev out; Robert Whittaker now faces Ikram Aliskerov in UFC Saudi Arabia main event
$$$. UFC Louisville salaries: Dominick Reyes earns biggest payday on card following first win in 5 years
Story. 13-year-old prodigy Talon Worden has designs on conquering UFC, wrestling, and the Olympics
Status. Anderson Silva clarifies future plans for fighting after boxing Chael Sonnen in Brazil
Rematch. Savannah Marshall ‘quite confident’ she will beat Claressa Shields in MMA
Bruised. UFC Louisville medical suspensions: Andrea Lee, Brad Katona face indefinite layoffs
Goal. Raul Rosas Jr. determined to beat Jon Jones’ youngest UFC champ record: ‘I’ve got four years to break it’
Crossover. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum reveals head coach uses UFC fights to motivate team during NBA Finals
Boxing. Demetrious Johnson calls Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul ‘the stupidest f*cking thing’ in combat sports
Between the Links.
Benavidez vs. Gvozdyk Staredowns.
One of the greatest trilogies of all time.
Delayed.
PFL Uncasville Highlights.
Masvidal-Diaz Countdown 1.
Aspinall prepares.
Fancy gogoplata from back control.
Cooking with Volk.
Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!
Argentinian!
The girls who are talented, who understand the game and who are not malicious, know how much good I am doing for the country and how I represent them! pic.twitter.com/0uuLe8VLIc
— Ailín “Fiona” Pérez (@AiluPerezUFC) June 13, 2024
Welp.
Discipline!
Tally.
Absurd.
He couldn’t be any less serious.
I watched his fight against Curtis earlier today. Honestly, it was my first time seeing it. Your boy was getting that ass kicked. His knee blowing was the best thing that could’ve happened to him. I’ve learned over the years to never bet against American wrestlers. I’m going to… https://t.co/SQoKKiF3u4
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 13, 2024
Go back and watch the fight, in the short time it lasted, Tom lost almost every exchange. Curtis was touching that chin from the moment the fight started. https://t.co/qrOnG7R8gf
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 13, 2024
I’m telling you guys film study is one of my great strengths,. If Curtis wants by knockout or ground and pound I would not be surprised.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 13, 2024
Anyone seen Gane’s training videos lately? The dude is absolutely massive, looking faster than ever, kickboxing is crazy creative and powerful. So funny how quickly everyone discredits him after our fight. Before our fight, everyone in their grandma was calling him the future of… https://t.co/rxXfTOSup3
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 13, 2024
It’s not about the injury, it’s about your boy getting touched up. Even the moment his knee popped he was getting punched in the face. I’m just calling what I see. The fans get so impressed with the new guy, I look at was actually happening. I look at the tactics. I don’t hop on… https://t.co/TZgZQzmDTv
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 13, 2024
Well, there’s the plan.
Step-by-step.
Wild.
Nice…
Almost fooled me.
Gregory Rodrigues (15-5) vs. Antonio Trocoli (12-3, 1 NC); UFC Vegas 93, June 15
Sedriques Dumas (9-2) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (11-9); UFC Saudi Arabia, June 22
Robert Whittaker (25-7) vs. Ikram Aliskerov (15-1), UFC Saudi Arabia, June 22
Alex Pereira (10-2) vs. Jiri Prochazka (30-4-1); UFC 303, June 29
Brian Ortega (16-3, 1 NC) vs. Diego Lopes (24-6); UFC 303, June 29
Anthony Smith (38-19) vs. Carlos Ulberg (11-1); UFC 303, June 29
Karolina Owczarz (5-3) vs. Sandra Succar (4-1); KSW 96, July 20
This is my last Morning Report as a Washingtonian, friends. The move to Tennessee begins today so I’ll see you Tuesday rather than Monday. Have a great weekend and thanks as always for reading!
Poll
Do you like the new updated version of UFC 303 better or worse than the original?
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