Manager Wants Kamaru Usman to Face Israel Adesanya: ‘This Has Nothing to Do with Loyalty’

If Ali Abdelaziz gets his way, Kamaru Usman will challenge for UFC middleweight gold at some point in the near future.

The reigning welterweight champion is expected to defend his belt against Leon Edwards next, but if that goes as planned, Usman’s manager envisions a scenario where “The Nigerian Nightmare” moves up a weight class in a bid to become the UFC’s next champ-champ.

“The next victim is Leon Edwards, “Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports. “Great fighter but he will get finished under three rounds. Fact. It’s gonna happen. The welterweight division in the UFC right now is very interesting. Kamaru is gonna beat him. I want him to beat Leon Edwards and then I want him to go fight Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title.”

After a recent interview with GQ where Usman admitted he considered jumping up two divisions last year to avoid a fight against fellow Nigerian Adesanya, such a scenario might seem unlikely. However, Abdelaziz believes loyalty to country only goes so far when prizefighting is involved.

“Listen, these guys, they’re cool but I don’t think they’re best friends,” Abdelaziz said. “If there is enough money for both of them to fight, they will fight in the parking lot. I know how people work. This has nothing to do with loyalty, because these guys, it’s not like they’re training partners or brothers. They’re African brothers and that holds a lot of value ... but at the end of the day, I’m Kamaru Usman’s team all the way. I want to see Kamaru Usman, before the end of the road, have two titles. I’m selfish, I’m greedy, and I think Kamaru deserves it....

“I know [UFC president Dana White] wants it, I want it, it makes sense. It makes a lot of sense .. I think there is enough money for these two guys that they would fight. I want to see this fight now. I think fans want it, I want it. I think these two men need to call each other.”

While Usman does not yet have an official date for his next welterweight title defense, Adesanya is scheduled to meet Robert Whittaker in a middleweight championship rematch at UFC 271 on Feb. 12.