Kamaru Usman and Belal Muhammad are continuing to engage with one another in back-and-forth comments.
The welterweight champion has made it clear that it’s his preference to fight Shavkat Rakhmonov next, despite the undefeated contender claiming that Muhammad turned the fight down for UFC 307 due to the quick turnaround.
Though Usman hasn’t totally pushed to get the fight, this has been a major topic of discussion this past week because of the pedigree that the former champ has in the promotion.
During a recent episode of his podcast, “The Nigerian Nightmare” responded to Muhammad’s most recent comeback and gave his current status.
Kamaru Usman Reacts To Belal Muhammad’s Recent Comments
On the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman and Henry Cejudo discussed the ongoing communication between Muhammad and the former champ.
He started by addressing the stance that “Remember The Name” gave on wanting to fight Rakhmonov first and commenting on the video that the champion posted of Usman’s training footage with an AI song over the top.
“For me, the way I looked at it, oh I want both, I want both guys because I want both paychecks but he doesn’t see it that way. So it is what it is but, at some point, he’s going to have to step in there with and we’re going to settle it but yeah, it is what it is. Keep dropping corny, weak diss tracks, is that what that’s called? A diss track? It was like a lullaby or something, nice country lullaby for me but it is what it is.”
Usman then spoke about his current position in the division and appeared to be leaning towards the idea that as long as Muhammad is an active champion, both he and Shavkat will get the chance to fight him in the near future.
It doesn’t sound from these comments like “The Nigerian Nightmare” is in any rush to fight another top contender in order to further cement his position at 170 pounds.
“Obviously with this rumor with Shavkat, listen, we’re right there to where if the champion decides to fight sometime in the next year and a half, two years, then we’ll both fight the champion but if the champion is not deciding to fight, then the division is going to have to move on and fights are going to happen but yeah right now, all of this is rumors.
“It is all rumors but listen, I am scared of no one. On less than nine days notice, I flew to the other side of the world to fight supposedly the scariest guy. I’m scared of no one, believe none of these rumors and at the same time, believe all of these rumors. Anything can happen, that’s all I’mma say, I’mma just leave it at that.”
Read also: Video: Israel Adesanya Confronts Aggressive Man, Urges Him to ‘Walk Away’ in Tense Altercation