';
FB TW IG YT VK TH
Search
MORE FROM OUR CHANNELS

Wrestlezone
FB TW IG YT VK TH

Kamaru Usman Brushes Off Belal Muhammad, Eyes Title Shot After Triumphant Return



Kamaru Usman has no interest in settling the score with Belal Muhammad.

Advertisement
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.”



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 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."
More

Subscribe to our Newsletter

* indicates required
Latest News

POLL

Will the UFC run an event at The White House in 2026?

FIGHT FINDER


FIGHTER OF THE WEEK

Corey Anderson

TOP TRENDING FIGHTERS


+ FIND MORE