Kamaru Usman picked up a big win over Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 129 a few weeks ago by outscoring the submission specialist on all of the judges scorecards in Santiago, Chile.
Afterward, “The Nigerian Nightmare” called for a Welterweight title fight against division king Tyron Woodley, who is eyeing a a return fight at UFC 227 on August 4. But if his request falls on deaf ears — which it likely will due to this — Usman wants the next best thing.
“Now, let’s be honest everybody wants to see me fight somebody. You know who that is? They just fought. I think honestly I’m about one win away from the title, we can agree on that. One fight away from the title,” said Kamaru on a recent edition of The MMA Hour.”
“Obviously everybody wants to see me beat up Colby Covington, but he is going to fight for the interim belt and should he win that fight, he will get Tyron Woodley for the title. Darren Till really the guy. He is a tough guy and I know he likes to fight and he comes to fight, but has he been tested against a guy like myself,” explained Usman.
“Everybody wants to see it, the fans, the media wants to see it. I know he’s a tough guy, good striking. I might not be the best striker, the best jiu-jitsu guy and I might not be the best wrestler; but when I put it all together I’m a bad motherfucker to deal with,” declared Kamaru. “That’s a fight I think interests the fans and that’s what I want right now. If you’re not going to give me Woodley, that’s the fight I want right now. He’s a tough guy and I like everything that he does.”
The two men have exchanged Twitter barbs on social media, but if everything goes to plan the two could be getting it on inside the cage as it’s a bout “The Gorilla” wants, as well. And we think it’s a pretty good idea, too.
Till, meanwhile, recently won a unanimous decision over former two-time title contender Stephen Thompson at UFC Fight Night 130 in Liverpool, England to collect his seventeenth straight win.
As for Usman, after initially stating he broke both his hands in his win over Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 129 a few weeks ago, it turns out he only had a few small fractures and managed to escape clean breaks. That means the promotion really has no reason not to book this showdown in the near future.
Unless of course, UFC wants to protect its new “cash cow.”