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Kamaru Usman explains why he would turn down fights with Khabib Nurmagomedov and Israel Adesanya.
Kamaru Usman has no intention of becoming a two-weight world champion, at least not while Khabib Nurmagomedov and Israel Adesanya rule their respective divisions.
Usman, the reigning UFC welterweight champ, shares the same manager as Khabib and has been known to socialize with the undefeated Dagestani at UFC events . Both he and UFC middleweight champ Adesanya, however, share the same Nigerian heritage and Usman believes it would be best if Nigeria had two champions to celebrate.
“I would never fight Khabib, that’s my brother. It’s just a mutual respect. I don’t see myself ever fighting Khabib. I don’t see myself ever fighting Israel. Even though a lot of people have hinted toward it,” Usman said on a recent edition of the JRE MMA Show, per BJPenn.com. “I don’t see myself fighting him. Having two belts in Nigeria is better than just having one guy hold two belts. There’s no desire there. That’s my guy. He’s special.”
“Israel is special. I get kinda envious, like damn I wish I could do that s**t,” he added. “I wish I could whip my hands around the way he does it and the way he throws that little question mark kick. I’m a fan of these guys, and Israel is one of these guys that’s special.”
Usman last fought at UFC 245, where he fought back-and-forth with Colby Covington before disposing of ‘Chaos’ in the fifth round to retain his welterweight title. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’s’ next title defense is expected to be against UFC ‘BMF’ champ Jorge Masvidal.