LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Kamaru Usman is apparently spending International Fight Week lobbying lobbying Dana White and Co. for a Khamzat Chimaev fight … at Welterweight.
A potential matchup between Usman and Chimaev has been discussed for several months, but nothing has come to fruition because they can’t agree on a weight.
Or, because UFC President, Dana White, hates the idea.
So, with a Catchweight bout denied and Middleweight out of the picture, Usman — who wants to remain at 170 pounds because he still has unfinished business in the division that he reigned supreme for several years — has put his foot down and challenged Chimaev to lose the weight and return to Welterweight.
“I see a lot of people [that have] obviously heard about the whole Khamzat situation,” Usman told reporters during a guest appearance during UFC 290. “Everyone wants to see that. I went into Dana’s office and said, ‘Hey, okay, this is the guy you guys are saying is the next guy in a division. Okay, give me that guy.’ I said that to Dana.
“You know, at the end of the day, I have been — and still am — the boogeyman of this division,” Usman continued. “I asked for the guy. If you want to fight — you want to be a champion — cut the f—king weight and come fight…. I think he’s a really, really good fighter. Very, very good fighter. I like the guy.
“But hey, you want to fight? Cut the weight, and let’s fight,” Usman added. “Be disciplined. He doesn’t want to do that anymore. You know, he’s got money now. He’s loving life, and he’s living good. He don’t want to cut the weight. He wants to eat, and he wants to move the goalposts for him. No, [if] you want to be champion. This is the gold standard right here, cut the weight and let’s make it happen.”
Kamaru Usman tells Khamzat Chimaev to “stop flirting” with him online
“If you want to fight, cut the weight and let’s fight. If not, stop using me for clout.” pic.twitter.com/21pF5tYbkQ
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) July 9, 2023
Chimaev has put on a lot of weight and muscle since his last fight at UFC 279 when he ran through Kevin Holland (watch highlights), and it seems like a move back to Welterweight looks unlikely.
White has hinted Chimaev will compete at Middleweight for the foreseeable future whenever he is asked, but has yet to reveal the plans for him.
As for Usman, he is coming off a second straight loss to Leon Edwards and is stuck looking for a fight that makes sense.
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