UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, who recently had ligament repair surgery on his right hand, will be out of action for some time. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is targeting a July return, but the fans will be able to catch a glimpse of him before that, as he will be in attendance at UFC 272: Colby Covington vs Jorge Masvidal.
Both men have a history with the champion, and he will have a close eye on them. In a recent interview, he said, “It’s a good fight. It’s an intriguing fight… Other than the Francis Ngannou fight (UFC 270), I haven’t really been to an event to sit and watch in a while. It’s one that I will be there to watch.”
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“It’s a great one. I’ll just be sitting there like a proud dad watching my sons fight and do what they do. So I’m excited to watch that one.”
Kamaru Usman has defended his title five times-four of those defenses have come against Masvidal and Covington. His last fight was against ‘Chaos‘ in a rematch of UFC 245. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
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The favorite to challenge Usman next is Leon Edwards. UFC president Dana White confirmed that ‘Rocky’ will be the next to fight for the title.
Kamaru Usman will welcome the Khamzat Chimaev challenge
Khamzat Chimaev is the biggest prospect in MMA right now. He has come out of the blocks and destroyed everyone in his way. He made his UFC debut in 2020 and since then has looked unstoppable.
‘Borz‘ is always looking for a fight and has called out Usman multiple times. It is a fight that fans are looking forward to as well. However, the champion is not dismissing him and says he will welcome the challenge.
In a recent interview, he said, “That’s the thing: There’s a reason there’s a structure to get here. He’s done great with the opposition that he’s been presented and by the time he gets here, once he gets here, of course, we’ll have that conversation.”
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“But I am the champion. I am the pound-for-pound best in the world. I am the king of the castle.”
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A fight with the champion might not be too far for the Swede. There are rumblings about him facing Gilbert Burns next, and if he gets a win against him, a title fight might be next.
What do you think of Chimaev facing Usman? Let us know in the comments!